@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.

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Here and that was a rare sight. I pulled out my phone and connected it to the speakers again and hit play on my Ed Sheeran playlist. One of the latest songs blaring to life and I turned the volume down a little to a more respectable level.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kE6pBd_LRYyqeKGM-6nLFM6H38CIeJh2g&feature=share

@BadBoyEmbryCall

“I knew the fluff would take over.” Pushing off the wall I shook my head.

‘The Goofball would do anything for her.’ #Quil said and #Seth agreed.

“That’s not a bad thing… to feel a connection to a pure of heart and soul, knowing you are it’s advocate and it’s protector. Especially when no one but you understand their language” Bringing my bottle to my lips I took a drink.

“She is his protection as much as he is hers.” I never questions them about their life. But I had -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Heard about #TheGoofball’s Ex and what had happened. “They are both in good hands.”

My gaze was back on the men before me. “Ed Sheeran is sponsoring the night at the sanctuary?” I mean who didn’t like his tunes?

Then my gaze moved indoors to the two pups. I could see them looking in my direction out the side of their eyes. So, I headed inside.

@HotHeadSheWolf
"She deserves a little spoiling considering someone's else's lack of responsibility means she had a few rough months ahead." We all knew the #Collin was worried about her giving birth so young. Honestly, we all were because we knew if anything happened to her or the pups it would break his heart... even with his imprint.

Her arrival really was proof that Spirit's always steered us down the right paths. I nodded at her when she said they were in good hands. "It was kind of >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘Nova is going to be just fine.’ #Seth said it with such determination that I turned to glance at him over my shoulders.

‘The fluff has the Goofball, and he has us and….’ #Quil broke off looking over to the screen. ‘No…. You want to go around it. You’re going to lose the game.’

“And just like that we have lost him.” I joked waving off Call and his phone. “House rules, you let the host pick.”

Combing my fingers through my hair I pulled it off to one side. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I stood myself next to the side of the couch and one of the pups. Who has messed up, because instead of playing his eyes were flickering to watch me.

I knew it wasn’t something I needed to smack him for. It was just curiosity.

‘Where you really going to give Lee your phone unlocked?’ I heard #Mac whispered outside to Call. ‘When she is in the mood, she can be dangerous with those things.’

@HotHeadSheWolf
I laughed and shook my head at #Quil... He had the attention span of a teenager.

I stopped with the bottle almost to my lips when Leah did that thing with her hair again. When #Mac spoke I had to replay the words in my head to comprehend them.

"You think I keep anything incriminating on my phone?" I laughed. And considering the whole pack knew my passcodes because many of them held onto my phone when I was patrolling... so they could come and get me if my mom needed me. >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Tilting my head to the side my hair sat on, I frowned looking at the screen. I wasn’t a gamer, never had been. It was more the Kid’s thing to do. For me my music and Books where my escape. And the odd movie on Netflix or Prime.

“So what’s the issue here?” I asked the pup dismissing #Quils huffs. But my ears heard Call.

Rolling my tongue over my teeth. “Other than the chick who left her cheap perfume all over him. She got into his phone abs got his number.” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The pups stopped dead and burst out laughing. They both turned back towards the door looking at Call.

‘Not so smooth ‘Bry?’ One called out.

@HotHeadSheWolf
"Hey, I cannot be blamed for a crazy woman unlocking my phone with my thumbprint while I slept." Sure I shouldn't have fallen asleep to begin with but wasn't about to point that out.

'He gave #Sumina his number tonight!' The other pup called out without looking away from the game. I stole one of Leah's moves and flicked a bottle cap at the back of her head.

"No, I gave her my email she could sign up for next month!" I clarified. "Besides... She's too fragile. It would not be >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I shook my head. Why was I still here? and why was I taking part in this conversation?

‘Evolution.’ My wolf teased, making me roll my eyes at her.

Turning to the back again I narrowed my eyes listening to the pup and Call, but hearing Embry had me tilting my head again.

‘We know he isn’t like what he makes the others see. They see one side, just like you only show them what they expect. Embry is evolving too.’

I took a step back as the sound of the cap flying in the -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Air. The pups got it in the back of his head, but we all knew it wouldn’t hurt him.

‘Embry Call has standards?’ It was a joke but it made me frown a little. I bit back.

“If Call didn’t have standards do you think you all would be here right now?” Okay so the Beta’s head raised up for a minute.

The pups shifted and I rolled my eyes. “Don’t spread rumours, not when you don’t know the facts.” I said, turning to take the now empty bottle to the recycle bin in their kitchen.

@HotHeadSheWolf

I just laughed at the pup, I knew he didn't mean it as an insult. “You’ve seen the girls I hook up with of course I have standards!” I took a swig from the bottle as Leah... What? Defended me?

“There’s a difference between taking advantage and a one night stand. If that's what you want; you pick someone else that how to play that game.”

#Sumina was not a one and done kind of girl... Or #Jess either. Which was why I thought #Tony and her would hit it off.

I knew Leah was >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< right, but I still gave a look that said. ‘I can handle the pups’ and smile that said ‘but thanks.’

‘So that Bad Boy reputation is all bullshit?’ #Mac laughed.

“I wouldn't say that. But the women that started that rep knew what they were getting onto, they just got pissed when they wanted more and I didn't.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Leaning back on the kitchen counter, I crossed my arms over my chest. The Kid watched me with intent, but he didn’t say anything. He knew it wasn’t the pups I was just saying it to, and it wasn’t just Call I was standing up for.

Rumours had plagued my existence for years. So, no one knew better that me how to play that game. I had given into it for years, become what was expected of me. Until I learnt that I didn’t have to become what others wants me to be.

I was a free -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Spirit to choose my own self worth. And Call, he had been walking a parallel path to my existence. At least now I knew he was.

The assumption that we’re made of him or me, we knew how to play them to our advantage.

I rolled my eyes at Embry, once again reading the unspoken words. And sent some back this time myself. I wasn’t doing it for him. This was a lesson for the pups. For them to be better than those who believed everything they heard.

@HotHeadSheWolf
#Mac nodded like he got it, but as far as I knew he was always a long term relationship kinda guy. And #Seth... Well he never anything else about me, had the gift of focusing on the best on people but not blinding himself to their less appealing traits either... He didn't judge. Something he and his older sister got from there parents.

Leah’s eye roll made me smirk and #Seth pushed off the doorframe and bumped Mac’s shoulder. ‘C’mon dude. Let's get out of here before they >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< rope us into cleaning up.’ #Seth teased but he knew in the morning whatever pups weren't working or in school would stop by and clear out all the bottles and cans left on various surfaces.

#Mac gave me a look like he was about to offer to help. “It's all good.” I walked over to the pups still playing the Xbox. “I have two volunteers right here.” They grunted some agreeable sounds and #Mac laughed, following Seth to retrieved his keys.

Leah was just leaning there taking >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I wasn’t sure why #Mac was nodding. What did he know about one abs done deals? The man gave his heart to the most inappropriate women. He cared for them too hard and fast. And was always left heartbroken afterwards.

The last one had done a deal on him, to the point he had lost some of the glimmer in his eyes.

Each time he fell into that hole, #Seth abs I had been there to pick him up. #Seth with kindness, and me… well… with a hard kick on his arse. -