@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘That makes sense, guess we never saw it that way.’ The kid said bringing his bottle to his mouth and having a drink.

‘It’s all good publicity, sometimes they even get paying gigs from these nights.’ #Mac added in agreement with Call. ‘Reaching an audience, they may not have done before.’

‘Explains why Ton is so good at the promotion stuff, the list of things he rattled off to Sis about how to get the word out was astonishing.’ The kid said, and I had to agree.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

If I was an amateur, I would have spat out the beer in my mouth, but I just scoffed at Calls remark.

“Yeah, that’s why it was a good vid. It had nothing to do with your gift, and talent… It was all about the looks.”

And don’t get me wrong, we were a damn good-looking pack. Us walking into rooms made heads turn. I was never shy or underplayed it, those were true facts. But when it came to music, the way it could make a person feel, the way it could -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

connect you with a world when you were an outsider… It deserved to be recognised.

@HotHeadSheWolf

I nodded to #Seth, “Yeah he’s great at all that stuff... And he does for the music store too.”

I took another mouthful from my bottle and nearly choked on it when Leah said I was gifted and talented. What!? Did she really at say that? I met her gaze briefly and shook it off.

I grinned smugly, though there was still uncertainty beneath it. “My thoughts exactly!”

The kid had passed of the guitar now and was talking with a few of the other younger pups.

“But that one...” I >

@HotHeadSheWolf

< I pointed my bottle at him, speaking quietly even though he was not paying attention to anything outside the conversation he was having. “That one is gonna be a tough nut to crack.”

I gave another look to his... To our... Beta and smiled at the encouragement she’d offered him earlier.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

All of us turned to glance inside, the door was still wide open. And I wondered if the doors to this home were ever closed at all. But pushed those thoughts away, I watched the pup.

His smile was genuine and from his soul. There was nothing fake about this boy. The innocent push he gave Brady at a joke made something shift in me.

‘Is that why you put him up to playing here tonight? An extension to the open mic night?’ #Mac was the one to ask.

And I liked that thought -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

That tonight could give him a platform in a place where he felt safe enough to share his talents.

“You don’t have to stand on a stage to share your skills.” I replied. “All nuts have a cracking point, you just need to be patient enough to find it.” I took another mouthful of my beer.

Now the question hanging in the air had to be. What was right for this pup?

@HotHeadSheWolf

I nodded to #Mac. “Yeah... That and it's the only place he feels comfortable to do it. Here at tribal meetings... But even at the bigger town events...” I shook my head. The few days leading up to the open mic is notice it was a confidence issue. “And sure he doesn't ℕ𝕖𝕖𝕕 to get on stage... But I’d ike him to least believe he could, that way it's a choice and not thinking he's not good enough.”

The corners of my mouth twitched when that inner Beta in Leah come out to play >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< “But until we can build him up enough he has a safe place here me.”

#Seth nudged me gently and smiled that smile of his that always got him his way. A confidence issue might not be a problem now, but it wasn't a good thing either. For pack or the kid.

@BadBoyEmbryCall Had a good point there. ( Not that I would admit it to him right now. ) It was one thing to know you’re skilled, and it’s a completely different thing to believe you didn’t have what it took.

‘He is young, give him time to find himself. Not everyone is born being the best and brightest of the tribe.’ The kid joked a little.

I stepped back when some how #Seth and #Mac ended up in a head lock. #Seth making it look like #Mac had him.

“Kid, you’re asking for a good beating -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

If you keep that up.” Rolling my eyes at the two of them, my eyes fell on Call. He had done a lot for these boys. Try is place, the way they knew he and #Quil would never turn them away.

“Come on them Third in Command… what is your bright idea here?” Keeping my voice low as laughter broke out in the house.

@HotHeadSheWolf

I laughed hard at #Seth’s 𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑙𝑓 routine. I mean... Sure the kid was part of the OG pack... But he was still the kid!

But of course, Leah put him in his place. My gaze met Leah’s again. I knew I couldn't pull what I did with #Sumina tonight. The pup would hear in my mind if I planned to fake a dropout and try to get on stage... If not before then surely after.

“I’m kind if running out of those when it comes to this one.” I admitted with a chuckle and not a hint of >

@HotHeadSheWolf

< embarrassment at the admission.

The #Mac tapped my arm with the back of his hand again my arm. ‘What about #Tony? Maybe if he sees how shy that guy is and how he is on stage...’ he trailed off with a shrug.

That was a brilliant idea... Maybe #Tony could even give him a few of those pro tips from actually taking voice lessons and it would seem like it was just flattery... Though why he thought annoy in the pack would do that I didn't know.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Raising my eyebrow, I stood there. Leaning on the door frame now my eyes back on the pups.

#Quil started to make his way towards us popping some popcorn into his mouth from the blow he was carrying.

‘Why do I feel like the only grown up in there?’ He asked, holding the bowl out towards me as he passed.

I took a handful. “We all do our part so you don’t feel like a one of the kiddos.” I teased.

‘That would hurt Lee, but I know it comes from Lo….’ He coughed. ‘… from -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

A place of caring.’ That was a close call, his mind must have been elsewhere to make a slip like that.

‘Good save.’ #Seth muttered through a cough.

Rolling my eyes at them. “You do know #TheGoofball has more maturity than the four of you combined.” It wasn’t a question.

My attention back in doors, I whistled calling the pup towards us. He jumped up smiling big as always. ‘What’s up Leah.’

“You saw Tony’s performance tonight?” He nodded his head. “Good isn’t he?” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The pup nodded once again. “Hmm…. Well, Mac and Call here think they can ask Tony to help with your singing. If Tony agrees… I want you to go.”

He shifted on the spot, his dark hues darting over the men stood beside and behind me.

“This is not an order, but a request… I hope you will step up and accept. It’s an Opportunity to better yourself.”

He looked to Call, and I saw the confusion and fear in his eyes.

@HotHeadSheWolf

I turned to #Quil when he called himself a grown-up! "Grown-up? Really... Have you seen the Fortnite stickers on the inside of his bedroom door?" I smirked at them all. I didn't mention the ones plastered to his bed frame, it would start the virgin jokes and I wasn't about to do that to my best friend.

'That was Claire and you know it!' He laughed. It was.... but still I said. "If you say so."

When she the kid over I smiled. Not the nerves in his eyes. "Trust me you want >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< come with me to Tony's place he has the most amazing guitars and his recording setup is amazing you could hear yourself on playback... He took voice lessons his whole life and went to arts school, you could pick his brain about college." I raised my eyebrows and gave him an encouraging smile,

He looked from me to Leah a few times, then to #Seth; who said. 'Sounds like a good deal to me!'

He shrugged and looked a Leah. 'If you think I should then I supposed it can't hurt.' >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Listening to Call I raised my eyebrow. I was learning something new here too. #Tony want to art school? He had said something about the voice classes. But it made me smirk. I could see him as an Arts nerd.

When the pup turned to me, I shrugged one shoulder. “What I think… is that its an opportunity many would do anything for. What I think is that you have Call here, and even Ms C… you could ask her for help with things you don’t understand.. when she is having good day.” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

We had talented and people such astonishing skills on the Rez. No one thought to use them.

“So… Yeah… I think it’s a good idea… But!” I stepped heard looking him in his eyes. “Don’t mess around, if people are going to give up their time for you… You need to step up too.”

I excepted him to step back, to try and run. But he didn’t. Nodding his head his smile was back. ‘I will, I promise I will. Thank you.’

Combing my fingers through my hair. “Thank Call and #Mac not me.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
I shook my head at Leah. She no idea how much these kids admired her… and sure they were shit scared of her at times too. But she was a role model to them as much as #Jake was. The kid turned and thanked me, he really didn’t need to.

“I’ll call #Tony and set it up.” I said to the kid and nodded to the circle of guys he’d been speaking to. “Go on, enjoy yourself.” Someone had turned the speaker back on. When her did I turned to her and gave her an I-told-you-so kind of smile >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< She’d know exactly what it was about.

I told it her it would be good for the pup to see her here more and this was just more proof of that. She’d never admit to that, but I knew… and that was good enough for me.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘Thanks Leah.’ The pups said turning to return to the others inside. I couldn’t help it and smacked him upside the heads

“This also means I want to see you playing and singing more.” Pocketing my free hand, I brought the bottle to my lips but it was empty.

‘Here, I’ll go and get the next round.’ #Mac said, taking my bottle with him.

Leaning on the wall, I turned to face the yard, listening to see who’s playlist they were playing indoors. But I saw Call giving me that -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Look again. The words he was saying without opening his mouth.

‘Someone finally learnt to speak your language as well as you.’ My wolf mused.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Telling him fine. I heard him. But I needed to do it my way. These small steps I was taking were got the pack, the pups and the tribe.

‘And for you… it’s time Leah.’ My wolf whispered to me.

‘This is a good thing you are going.’ #Seth said nudging Call. ‘It’s good to see the pup happy and excited.’

@HotHeadSheWolf
I had to pull my attention away from Leah when #Seth spoke to me. It seemed to be getting harder to do. There was just so much going on behind those fucking stunning brown eyes. I didn't want to miss something.

I nudged #Seth back. "Any excuse to hang with #Ton and that epic collection of guitars. Plus I need to coach him if he's going to ask Jessica out." I grinned a Leah. "Can't give this one extra excuses to kick my arse." I teased. I gave Mac a quick thank you as he >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Why did it feel like Call was always waiting, watching, trying to see the things no one had dared to before?

‘When did that happen? Tony and Jess?’ #Quil looked at each of our faces.

Of course I didn’t say anything, words weren’t my forte. I turned my head to really look at him.

‘And you’re okay with this Leah?’ He was looking confused.

‘We’re you even in the same bar as the rest of us tonight?’ #Seth laughed. ‘Ton even got Jessica’s number. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

And sis knows… he is one of the good ones.’

“Jess is a big girl now. She’s got this.” I told #Quil. But it was some Call said that had me thinking.

“Don’t coach him too much. If Jess was happy enough to give him her number, then she sees something she likes there. She doesn’t need a Embry Call two point zero.”

@HotHeadSheWolf I laughed at Quil… of course he was distracted with Claire on video chat. I made a mental note to call that kid tomorrow.

“Oh trust me I’m talking about the basics here like… opening you mouth and saying words.” I laughed hard at the idea of #Tony being like me. “Don’t worry #Tony is nothing like me in this area. He's strictly a one-woman type of guy. He does date often... But when he does he's all in for her.” I wasn't going to say that he normally git taken advantage of, >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< he'd spoil his girlfriends and instead of being gracious they got greedy and took advantage. But #Jess was the gracious kind, he’d still spoil her, but the only thing she’d expect from him was undivided attention when they were together. #Tony would happily give that.

“He’s the long term boyfriend kind.” I glanced at #Quil... Knowing that he would be who he was if dating had ever interested him after he imprinted in Bear.

But the idea of never brought him any joy. “Did >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Both my hands were pushed into my pockets now, when #Seth glanced around to me. His eye quirked in a unspoken question. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺?

Giving him a short nod as my answer telling him 𝘐’𝘮 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦. He rejoined the conversation. ‘You don’t do that dating thing ‘Bry. I know Ma and aunt Tiff Would like you too. But… yeah I don’t get that bad boy, new girl each night vibes from Ton.’

It was #Quil who was looking at me now. ‘I’m still shocked you are okay with this.’

Why was it -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Shocking? “The kiddo has her head on, she knows what she wants and she is working towards it. She wants to be a vet… so while taking a year out, she isn’t messing around down the beach. She went and got herself a job at the practice… when #TheNerd wasn’t even hiring.”

All I had done was told her never to take no as an answer if it was the right thing for her and the other person.

“And…” biting the inside of my cheek. “I don’t want her on Tinder.” I wasn’t going -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Break my young cousins confidence in me by telling them about the man who showed up. But I still felt the want to find him and punch his lights out.

He understood by the way he was nodding, and the kid was too. “It’s not up to me. This is up to her and Tony.” Nodding to Call. “And he knows what I’ll do to him if things fuck up.”

#Quil and #Seth laughed looking to Embry now. ‘You will skin him alive and hangs him naked from the trees?’

“Hmm… Not a bad idea at all.” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

#Quil’s face shifted into a happy glow. I could feel the warmth in his heart as the Spirits wrapped him in their embrace.

‘She really liked tonight. Complained about wanting to be there.’ He held his hands up. ‘I told her Leah.. if she were here we would have been watching from home. But still.’

@HotHeadSheWolf
"Well... We can't all be as gifted as I am!" I laughed at #Seth who rolled his eyes.

She was right about #Jessica though, the girl knew what wanted and want after it. She had a lot in common with #Tony in that regard.

"Trust me if this goes somewhere and he messes it up it won't be out of malice and #Tony will be the one hurt."

I raised a brow at #Quil when he said she liked the show. "Really? And she had no sarcastic comments about it?" I scoffed.

'Actually...' #Quil >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

“I’m going to need to have a talk with Bear. Maybe redo sarcasm 101 again. She’s getting the side down.” But #Quil knew I was messing with him.

‘She is still talking about the ride you gave her down the coast. She said it was so much fun.’

#Seth’s eyes were on me, listening to #Quil. ‘Oh I see how it is… #Clare and the others girls all get to ride your baby. But your own blood?’ He was shaking his head at me. ‘Harsh sis, just harsh.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I was smirking at him. “Tonight’s not about you’re hurt arse. It’s about that one…” pointing my chin towards Call. “… and everything he did for the bar. Even if it was more fun for him.”

‘That’s true. It was a flawless night ‘Bry.’

‘Cold beers for all.’ #Mac made his way back handing out the bottle one by one. And the kid held his bottle up.

‘To open mic nights, and an MC who can do it all.’ I rolled my eyes at the Kids words.

“Not sure about the do it all part.”