@HotHeadSheWolf
As the pups arrived I started to notice that some of them avoided me and others were giving me sympathetic looks. I hated both. The impact of what I had said was hitting me.

I never have had an outburst like that around them. I could have weak moments like that with #Quil or #Jake... But I shouldn't have let them hear that.

Especially when I didn't even believe it... My mother is a fighter, and she was doing so well lately. But it would be a lie to say it didn't cross my >

@HotHeadSheWolf

< mind sometimes.

I knew there was only one way to move past it. I slipped into my bedroom and emerged with my own guitar, kicking one of the kids off the couch. #Quil turned off the music when he saw the guitar in my hands. and I played.

I played to the only thing I could think to explain how and why I acted the way I did tonight.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Aci2ZgyFUm8&feature=share

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The roads at this time of the night were empty. Not a soul on them other than me and my baby. I had the Call’s Nana’s guitar tied onto the back of my bike, as I made my work to his and #Quil’s place.

I didn’t like going to their sanctuary, I had always thought it was a place the pups let their hair down, and seeing me there wouldn’t let them do it. But, then Call and #Seth had talked me into stopping in, and I saw what it had meant to the pups to see me arriving. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Still, I didn’t want to make a habit of it.

As I turned into their street, I saw the Orange truck in front of me and smirked. There was only one person with that truck. Making my roll my eyes, every time I saw it.

My ears honed into the sound of music. Someone was playing already?

I pulled up behind #Collin as he carried #Nova out of the cab. ‘Hey Leah!’

He followed my eyes. ‘Oh I dropped Jess off at home safely, she said she had an early start.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

As he placed the fur ball down, she came running over to me.

I held my hand out. “Sit your prego arse down.” I told her. And with her tongue ready to lick me she did. “No licking either.” Patting her on her head. I was still listening. I knew the song, and the words to Demon danced on my lips.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I could tell #Collin’s truck apart from the others just by sound, he was the only one on the Pups with his head screw on enough to save up a down payment for a new truck.

Then Leah’s bike, well… we all knew that one. Some of the pups were trying to sneakily glance out of the windows. I give #Seth a smile and he just tilts his head with a grin. Still playing the song when I hear the two of them outside.

‘My turn!’ One of the pup said and took my guitar finding a seat and >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< started to play. I moved the cupboards and pulled out the bourbon that only Leah drank, and the pup was here often enough to know how to help himself to whatever he wanted.

I filled a pot (because we didn’t have a dog bowl) with water and put it on the floor for the tiny terror. “No get the dog drunk!” I said to the room. “At least not while she’s pregnant… after that it’s fair game.” I laughed and so did a few of them. It really wasn’t and they all knew they’d earn a >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘Come on, Leah, she’s only a pup.’ #Collin gave me that open smile of his. And I knew it. I liked his pup, she was a handful but I’d take the husky over the pack most days.

“I know, got to teach them early. It’s how they stay in line.” I said undoing the case from the back of my baby.

‘She’s not that bad is she? We are doing training classes.’ He looked to #Nova and patter her head.

“She is fine, it’s the ideas the rest of you pups would get that I am -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

counteracting here.” Patting the side of my leg. “Shall we head in?” Both #Nova and #Collin fell in line making me smirk. Yup. They were both pups.

I knew, anyone else would be asking after #TheNerd, but I didn’t. It was his life and his new relationship to deal with as he felt right.

‘Looks like they started the party without us.’ He pushed the door open, letting his husky run in first and then he was inside too. I stood on the door step, my hand tight around the -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

handle of the case. “Spirits.” Their name a whisper and a prayer.

Stepping inside and closing the door behind me.

@HotHeadSheWolf I grabbed myself about her beers while I waited for the two of them to finished their chat and come in.

Some of the pup were already murmuring about Leah showing up here for the second time. And a few of wondering if it was her way of saying thanks to me and the kids that played tonight. Without using the words ‘thank you’ because they knew she could hear them.

My smile broadened when she stepped in. The fur ball flying past my to start sniffing at…. Well, everyone.

“Thank >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

It was a habit to glance around, to see where everyone was. There place was sparse and open plan.

The red couch which I heard opened into a bed, the dinner table and chairs they had gotten from #Mac’s parents and the TV. Two door leading to their bedrooms on the left, the bathroom between, and the back door directly in front of me. Leaving nowhere for anyone to hide.

The pup who sat on the chair with his fingers running over the guitar strings looked up and smiled, and -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Started to play the song Call had played the last time I came to one of these. And the look on his face, the way the pup chuckled, welcoming me in it all spoke louder than words.

https://youtu.be/514OEdx4ehc

#Mac stood towards the windows, and #Seth lounged on the couch.

“Hmm?” My eyes were back on Call and the outstretched glass. “Next time don’t forget it. I’m not a delivery service.” I told him, taking the glass and slowly and carefully replacing it with the case.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I shook my head and laughed. I should have expected as much. “At least you got a drink out of it right?” I grinned. “The bottle is on the counter if you want another.

“Besides…. Next time I won’t be singing.” I teased her. It was code for I won’t need my Grandmother as back up. But at the meant of my singing some of the pups started piping up with questions about why I told them all I couldn’t sing!

“I never said I couldn’t… I said I didn’t sing! And I still don’t!” I >

@HotHeadSheWolf

< laughed and disappeared into my room to put the guitar back where it belonged.

When I returned I finally noticed the song being played. And gave Leah a smile. “This is one of you favorites, right?” I knew it was an understatement it was more like her anthem.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

“It’s nice know you think your bourbon is worth my time.” I rolled my eyes, but my ears were tuned into the pup and how is played.

I hard some of them talking about how Embry had kick started the night, and it clinked in my mind. My eyes were back on him. He had been music.. to say what he couldn’t in words?

‘When did you teach him that trick.’ My wolf asked, and I told her I hadn’t. He had been the one playing Demons when Collin and I got here?

I shrugged out of -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

jacket, placing it on the back of one of the chairs. Letting him go, as I pattered the furball on her head. She some how made her way back.

‘Leah are you going to let him off like this? One and done?’ My eyes moved over the the pup stool talking to #Mac.

Raising my eyebrow I shrugged my should taking a sip. “It’s not my fault he is looking for an out, and doesn’t want to share his voice with any of us. You’d think the MC for open mic night at the #HwH would want to open-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The show each time. Just to show the others how it’s down.”

I didn’t look at him, I just took another sip from my glass.

“Maybe Embry Call only had one performance in him?” I asked them all.

Setting all the pups off, they started telling Call how he needed to step up, and do it for the pack, and do it for tribe.

When they were all lost in it I whispered “Do it for yourself, for the look on your moms face at watching you up there.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
I shook my head. Were the pups teaming up against me... with Leah Clearwater!

I chuckled to myself. This was a hell of a shift in pack dynamics. I smiled to myself, but it was a good thing. It was bringing the pup closer to her... one inch at a time.

"I don't need an out... I lost a bet and I paid up! That all there is to it. I can still open the sows with my guitar!" I gave them all a smile.

That last comment Leah had me raising a brow. "Really? Were gonna go there? >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Rolling my tongue over my teeth I narrowed my eyes at him. Where had I gone and where was he taking it?

“Hmm…” I leant back on the table, crossing one arm over my chest as I took another sip from the glass in my other hand.

The kid sat up in the couch, his eyes darting from Call and then too me. #Quil and #Mac turned to look and they all gasped.

“I don’t know Call, how did your last set up with that nurse go? Has Ms C update her setting up skills?”

All the eyes shifted

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

From me to him. And that sounds of burning came from their months. #Brady took #Nova, and went to sit beside #Seth whispering. ‘It’s about to go down?’ Making me roll my eyes.

“It’s okay Call, you paid your bet… guess your too chicken to show what your made of.” I raising my eyebrow at him. “We all get it.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
“That wasn’t Mom’s fault!” I laughed. I knew in theory Sophie was likely perfect for me, she was pretty (not that pretty was my type), she spent her life looking after other people, she was a musician… and she an amazing ear for music and she listened to everything… just like me. But there was nothing about her that pulled me in. There was no... Okay so I didn't a have a word for 𝕚𝕥... But 𝕚𝕥 wasn't there. “Its not mom's fault I'm and arsehole.”

All eyes moved to me when >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< implied I was chicken. And I could let the lie.

I made my way to the cupboard and pulled a bottle of #Paul’s best pouring a good half a glass... For courage and let it burn its way down. “Prepared to eat those words Clearwater.” even with my moonshine my heart still did that thing. I held my hand out to the pup with the guitar and he handed it over.

I pulled the strap over my head and played. I wasn't sure how far into the song is make it without her killing me. But I >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< certain it would be the last time she would ever ask me to sing.

“What day is it
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up, and I can't back down
I've been losing so much time.”

I sang the words, moving slowly back across the room towards Leah.

“'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me
And all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you.”

I locked my eyes on >

@HotHeadSheWolf

< hers with a shit-eating grin. Hearing the murmurs of ‘What the hell is he doing?’ and ‘He’s gone mad!’ alongside variations of ‘Leah’s gonna kill him.’

“What are the things that I want to say
Just aren't coming out right?
I'm tripping on words
You got my head spinning
I don't know where to go from here.”

Then they were all quiet. Too quiet, like they were all holding their breath and keeping still. All but Leah. I could her breathing and her heart stood out in the weirdly >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< quiet atmosphere.

“Cause it's you and me
And all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me
And all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
There's something about you now
That I can't quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right.”

There was that unexplored world behind Leah’s eyes. All those things that no one ever figured out. Things that couldn't be unseen once you caught a glimpse >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< of them. Things that I suddenly needed to know.

“'Cause it's you and me
And all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you and me
And all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to prove
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
What day is it?
And in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive.”

It was only when I >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< ran out of words that I remembered I was singing... Again. Because of Leah again... To Leah.... again.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WUw_UQA8XYI&feature=share

@BadBoyEmbryCall

“So, you are admitting that it’s not Ms.C who has the bad taste? So…. If she were to set me up… it would be with a good guy… if only I needed a man to make me whole.”

The fact that he jumped to his moms defence was exactly what I wanted to see. Our moms did that crap to see us happy. #MsC or Ma setting me up, was irritating at times. But I saw the meaning behind it.

My eyebrows pulled together when he got that look in his eyes, it was one of gotten to know now. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

One I’d missed for years. And the shot of #Paul’s moonshine was telling too.

The whispers and murmurings disappeared into background noise. Because as soon as he started to play, I heard nothing else. Wind blew in through the open windows, engulfing me fully.

She was listening to the words with me. And his heart was pounding once again just as it had in the bar earlier. But it the the whispers of the spirits, they were singing and dancing. They were being pulled into -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

This world of his, pulled into his gravity like his voice and his playing was a planet they wanted to be a part of.

‘Leah?’ My wolf whispered to tell me to be here, but his eyes had taken a hold of me. His dark eyes, with those black flex speckled in them saw something I didn’t want others to see.

He came too when he realised the song was over. And the room was silent all eyes on him.

I titled my head to the side. “You do realise that’s three for three wins for -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Leah Clearwater? You do like losing to me don’t you?”

Did I want to punch him for doing that? Whatever 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 was…. 𝙔𝙚𝙨! But with the outburst before. And now this… I’d end up doing the one thing I didn’t want the wolves doing in front of the pups.

‘Look who is learning.’ My wolf scoffed with amusement.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I had to shake off the fog, remembering that there were still people her. This was supposed to have been a joke, to tease her with a mock serenade... but...

I huffed a laugh at her comment and dropped my eyes from hers. Willing my heart to keep a steady pace. It did.

I bit my lower lips and smiled. "You can twist anything to make it sound like you won, can't you?" I teased her, I knew this round was a draw. she had gotten a little too, I knew... because this time I saw >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< deeper into her than she'd let me before... Here... With the pack and the pups.

I walked over to the counters again and poured to doubles of the moonshine and then walked back to hand on to Leah. "Well played, Clearwater." I held my glass out to her.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The room came back to life, all the faces who had been waiting with baited breaths let them out all at once when my fist didn’t meet his face. And let’s face it, I only held back because he was holding a guitar. I couldn’t have him saying I only got the hit in because his hands were full.

‘Sure, sure… keep telling yourself that. I know you called him a friend remember?’ I could snap at her, but it would have to wait until later.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘She didn’t twist that one ‘Bry, she won fair and square.’ The Kid said laughing, as he pushed up to stand to go get himself another beer.

“If that’s what you need to tell yourself to get a good nights sleep Call, fine by me.” I took the new glass from him, setting the other now empty one on the table. “Moonshine? Still in need of the liquid courage?” I asked clinking my glass to his.

‘Oh, so we don’t get any of that?’ #Brady scoffed, jumping up -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

to go pour out a few shots of the moonshine for himself and a few others.

“I only play to win, you know that.” I told Call and hit the shot back in one swoop.

Closing my eyes, I made a face as the clear liquid burned it’s way over my tongue and down my throat. The heat burning in my stomach.

“Is…. Is it me… or is this crap getting worse with each batch he makes?”