@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.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
I Smile at the memory of the day on the beach with Claire... the conversation with her about the tree of life and telling her that the magic that kept it alive only worked if we believed in it.

I stopped with the almost empty bottle half to my mouth. Was that a thank you... from Leah? Or close as it would get.

I took the beer from #Mac and drained the bottle in my hand and tossing it into the recycling. Part of me wanted to brush off the comment... But I knew it was stepping >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Nothing got past my eyes, and if it ever did that was when my wolf caught it for me. But his reaction to what I said had me watching him out the side of my eyes. I wasn’t known for words. I wasn’t known for saying that 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘴 and the 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴. I also wasn’t in the habit of patting any of this lot on the back for doing their calling. It was what we were born to do. It was up to us to make sure we did it well. I didn’t need to thank them all for it.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

If they wanted a pat on the back, they had #Jake and Ma. Call too, and #Quil was always there to hold them up with #Seth. So, this now, my being here. This was me saying I saw him and all he did. It was my action that spoke for me, but only to those who knew how to hear it.

I took the bottle of beer from #Mac and twisted the cap off. They all clinked their bottles, and I rolled my eyes.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I made a point to make sure my bottle clinked against here despite the eye roll. If she was going to be here, I was going to make sure she was 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 here.

She was on a journey right now... and she needed to know that these kids and the rest of the OG crew respected her and took her seriously as one of us if she was going to step up and lead.

I knew that there were some of us in the room that played a big part in why she felt like she was always on the sidelines, watching. >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< #Sam had led us with a fierce loyalty to the tribe and the Elders. #Jake had always led us with his heart, and it was in the right place. But Leah... She had the fierceness that #Sam had, she had the love of the tribe and the ancestors, she would throw herself on a sword for any of us.

It was about time the other started to see what I did now. Sure I was late to the party, but that didn't mean I couldn't start now.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Before I could bring my bottle to my lips, Embry was right there. The tip of his bottle clinking to the neck of mine. It made me freeze for a split second.

‘Bry, you’re pushing your luck tonight.’ #Quil chuckled into his bottle. They all knew the lines I had drawn. And this one… The son of Ms Tiffany Call… he was still pushing the limits I put down.

‘This is pushing the limits?’ My wolf scoffed, flashing an image of the night at the club in Seattle, Call stood before on -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

the dance-floor. And then the image flashed to the streets of Seattle that very night, where he wrapped his arms around me in a hug.

I shook my mind free. I didn’t need to think of that night right now. And she knew her point was made.

“Don’t be surprised if you come home from work Quil… and find him in the ground.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
I smirked at #Quil and quirked a brow. He really had no idea. There were so many times lately that my luck had been pushed. Spirits! I’d shared a bed with the woman. Sure there was a wall of pillows between us. But still.

“If she was gonna finish me off she would have done it a long time ago.” I laughed, but it was true… and also not. She could strike without warning.

‘Oh yeah… because striking when you least expect it is 𝕟𝕠𝕥 her style at all.’ #Seth scoffed.

‘Be afraid!’ >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< #Quil teased.

The goofball came over and with his keys in hand. ‘I’m gonna drive a few of the guys home. Do you want to come back and help you clean up?’

I had to laugh at the kid. “Nah no home, get some sleep, Nova is looking like she's ready for bed motion to the pup sprawled across the couch where she had evicted the pups.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Leaning back on the wall, my legs crossed at my ankles. I just listened to them speaking about me. It wasn’t like I wasn’t stood right here.

But it was an insight into the things, moments and conversations I’d missed. There was a time I would have walked away from this. Not caring to hear it all. If it wasn’t to do with the pack and protecting the tribe and the people around us. I wasn’t interested.

Now things had changed, the #GreatWolf had been trying to show me the -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

balance I missed out get the years. #Billy and Ma had too. But I had been an 𝘈𝘭𝘭 or 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 kind of a person.

‘Balance the path you walk, and you will see how much more you can be here for them all. For the pups and your tribe too.’ My wolf was on top form tonight.

Nodding a 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 to #TheGoofball, my eyes following back inside to the fluff on the couch while the pups sat on the ground.

“She knows how to get her own way doesn’t she?” I liked it.