@BadBoyEmbryCall

When he let go and stepped back, I could breath again. Having him in my space had been uneasy. Not because I thought he would do anything. ( I was more then capable of handling him and anyone else. ) But because I was used to having the space.

My hand still smarted, taking a couple of steps back from the window I let my head fall down between my outstretched arms. Counting myself down.

I could hear him behind me. “You know what…” I closed my eyes tight, thinking this time-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Before speaking. Standing up right I turned to face him. Rubbing my good hand over my eyes.

“You’re so intelligent at times, you read the moment and know the right words to use. But… this…” pointing over to the guitar. “You realise what you are saying here right? If I don’t have the guitar… you aren’t going to tell me if you are in trouble? Did you learn nothing from what just happened?”

Was it my anger feeding my behaviour? Spirits Yeah… was I sorry? Fuck No!

@HotHeadSheWolf

I took another few steps back and sank down into her couch... She had a good point there. I knew now that could go to her. Even if it did worry me that she might go back to that underground fight club to earn quick cash. I rest my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands.

But, why then? Why had I ended up here?

“No... That's not it. I mean I know I could come to you... Honestly, I just started to walk. I didn't really have a destination in mind... And I ended up here.” >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< I looked up at her now. Gauging her reaction.

I knew the fight #Jake was part of it... It was what kept me awake. What I’d said to him about my Mom. Knowing that they had all heard it... Showing weakness in front of them wasn’t the problem.

They needed to that even the original packs had moments of fear and doubt, that it was okay to talk about it. But knowing I would have the hear it through their ears again and again on patrol...

“I’m sorry... I really have to stop >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

My throat worked but no words were there, my front twisted with a deep frown.

‘He came to you, and didn’t put the guitar up for sale. Maybe.. this is his way to say 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘔𝘦?’ My wolf whispered to me and then she sat back.

She wouldn’t sleep, not now, and not after the fact that I had punched Call in the face.

‘That… I get it.’ She said frowning at Call too. Which would have made me laugh any other day, the two of us agreeing on a violent move when she always talked -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

about how my fist shouldn’t be my go to. But tonight…

“That’s your take away here? To apologise about showing up at my door?” I threw my hands up in the air. “Embry Fucking Call….” It was a growl.

I walked past him, kicking his long legs as I passed him to go in the kitchen. Grabbing a bag of peas, and a bag of ice from the freezer. I knew they would be water in minutes but still.

Returning I threw the ice at his head. “What were you thinking about before you left?” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Falling into the couch, I lent forward my elbows on my knees and covered my knuckles with the peas.

@HotHeadSheWolf
It was really starting to feel like every instinct I had was wrong. I rubbed my hand against my jaw when she left the room to tend to her sore knuckles. It had been a long time since I had been hit that hard. And Leah threw a hell of a left hook.

I hunched over with my elbows still on my knees and my eyes on my feet. I shrugged at her question. “I was just thinking about what my grandfather would do in my situation. And I just walked... He always said that there's a >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< difference between pride and hubris. A truly confident man will ask for help when he needs it.”

My eyes flicked over to the frozen peas draped over her knuckles and winced at the flashback of unwinding the bloodied tape from her hands in Seattle. My gaze trailed up along her arms and to her face, where wiped the blood of a sorry excuse of a man that was splattered there.

“I failed that test too many times. I didn't want to let him down again.” my words were beginning to >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Picking up the bag of ice from beside me with my good hand, I pushed it into his jaw. “Hold it there…. Don’t let it drip on my rug!” My voice still full of anger, but I was controlling myself better now.

“There is no such thing at failing, not if you are learning from the mistakes you are making.”

I moved the peas over when I felt them warming.

“Why tonight of all nights… the night you used her guitar to give you strength… would you even let yourself consider selling it-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

for money of all things? Don’t you trust that I… we… the pack… Ma… we all have your back? If times come to be bad… we would work it out.”

I wasn’t going to remind him of the money I won from my last fight. That had been a mad weekend.

“Your grandpa had the right idea, advice..” My eyes went to the guitar on my armchair.

‘He brought it here.. he brought it to you to keep safe.’ She whispered.

@HotHeadSheWolf
“No Leah... It's not that. I know that you would.” I rested my hand over her when she pressed the ice pack to my jaw.

“I just think it should be me the sacrifice first. And I can't stand the thought of you going back to that place again... I would never you tell you how to live your life... But I didn't want to the reason you need to do that again.” Not that the fools she fought there didn't deserve it.

I gave a small, humourless laugh... “Yeah was... He the kind of person >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The air picked up and blew its way through the windows in my living room. And I froze for a moment before slipping my hand out from under his. Leaving him to hold the ice to his jaw himself.

Shifting where I sat, I picking up the bag of peas, testing my hand and knuckles. Glad when I saw that the swelling and bruising was subsiding.

“Call…” I shook my head before looking over to the side at him. He went there. His mind was on my underground fighting for money. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“How and what I do to help… that’s not for you to worry about. I’m not ashamed of doing what it takes to help the pack. And anyway.. you are forgetting that we have the money from the win. That’s sat ready and waiting in case it’s needed.”

Nodding my chin back to the guitar. “That is never going to be sold… and before you get any ideas of going back to work for Walker… Don’t! Do you understand?”

Falling back into my couch. I listened to him talk. “If you felt him, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I am sure he was with you. Telling you… showing you how not to do what you were thinking.”

Frowning I sat up.

“Wait… you were listening to the spirits?” And they brought him here?

@HotHeadSheWolf
“I could say the same thing you about how I handle Mom’s bills... Or about going back to work for Walker.” I pointed out. “I’m not planning on either of those... But you’d care if I did... there's no difference really.” I shifted the ice pack and sighed. “I know you it's up to you to take care of all of us. But we're all supposed to look out for the pack... As best we can.”

This night just kept getting stranger and stranger. “And I know... You still have that money... But I >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< don't to do anything that will have you going back there to the people that treat you like that. I don't mean the arseholes that can't keep their hands to themselves.” I added the last part quickly. “I mean the ones that look at you’re like their next payday.”

I caught her gaze now and thought about her question. “Yeah I suppose I did. Maybe not listening exactly... Just a feeling... And I followed it.” I gave a lighter laugh now. “It seems to be happening more and more >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< lately.”

I watched her eyes for those tiny expressions, those rare moments when she let something be seen.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘He is learning, more that you thought was possible?’ My wolf asked and I had to agree with her.

“You could say the same thing… sure… but it’ll just earn you another one of those.” Nodding my chin to his jaw. But I knew, I couldn’t just punch him each time I disagreed with what he was saying or doing.

I had hit him, it was a mistake. But Spirits… to even think about the money and selling his Nana’s guitar? It wasn’t right.

“Look, I told you… I’m not planning on going -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - back there. Spirits Call, Lucky was on me to come back. That Erik was waiting for my agreement… but I’m not doing it.”

My caveat was still in place, I told him I wouldn’t go back unless it was absolutely necessary.

“I…” I winched a little at the mention of the people there, of what had happened to me there. My hand fisting at my own stupidity with letting my guard down. But I pushed it away, locking it down before I let it out.

Closing my eyes I took a few deep breaths -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - “Listen, I didn’t react well to why you came here. I get it. I do.” That was as much of a sorry he was going to get from me.

“But can we just agree, selling the guitar is off the table?”

‘You’re not even going to acknowledge what he said about how the pack is there for you too?’ She asked me. But what could I say to that?

“The Spirits…” Turning the bag of peas again, I sat back again. “They have always been there, it’s just that you are only now listening.”

@HotHeadSheWolf

I chuckled and shifted the ice pack on my jaw when she threatened to punch me again. I breathed a sigh of relief when she said she wasn't going back there. But I noticed there was an implied 𝕪𝕖𝕥 in her tone.

I saw the way she changed as she thought about it pushing it all back down in a split second. I really wished she’d stop doing that. But I was determined to put in as much time as it took for her to trust me to hear what was in her head.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “That’s why I >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< I'm hoping you'll still hang onto it for me.” I nodded. “I know I can be impulsive and I don't want to do something I'll regret in a moment of worry.”

The way she talked so openly about the spirits always gave a longing feeling. “I know... But the last few months I feel like...” I shrugged thinking it sounded ridiculous. “Like they have a plan for me... And they're leading me to it. Not the way they speak to you. I just know what they want me to do.”

My eyes were on her >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Turning my head to the side to face him, I frowned. He was doing that thing again. His mom and he had this way to find something you didn’t want to be seen. #MsC had been doing it to me for years. But Call, this was something new. Because I know it hadn’t been there before Seattle.

Which bought its own set of crap thoughts and feelings which I didn’t do…

Was he doing this thing where he sees me because he felt sorry for me? Because that would earn him more than a punch.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘That’s where your thoughts are taking you? Not the fact that he is he for help?’

And a rush of guilt hit me hard. He was here asking for help…

“Yeah, I will hold on to it. I won’t let it out of my sight.” Glancing over at the armchair it sat on. It was beautiful.

“Hmm…” speaking about the Spirits always had a calming effect on me. And slowly I couldn’t hear them whispering once again.

“They spoke to everyone in their own way. What may work for one person, my not -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - for another. You may feel it in your soul, or you just know what you are meant to do, for me it’s on the air.”

Pointing to the window with my chin. “It’s a touch, a song, a embodiment of all that is good. You need to understand how it feels to you.”

‘Are you going to tell him? That they have a path for him?” I didn’t think it was my place. It was a Journey for him to take and discover. And it wasn’t like I knew his path.

“Can you see this plan of yours?” But did he know?

@HotHeadSheWolf

I nodded and smiled at her, knowing she wouldn't a thank you, even though it went against everything inside me not to. But I was in her space do I could do things his she liked them.

I leaned back into her couch and listened. “The plan?” I gave a soft laugh. “No... I mean there was a time I wasn't certain I was Quileute and I just ran with it. I'm happy enough to feel my way through it, and trust that they know what's best. I can always chose my own path if I don't like >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< where they're taking me.”

The last time I did that it was the biggest mistake I ever made... So this time around I think it's time to put my faith in them.

But I turned to her, smiling and pulling the ice pack away. “What’s it like?” I asked, my brows pulled together. “Knowing what you're fate is?”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

There was something wrong with this boy. I had just punched him in the face. And now he was smiling at me?

‘He doesn’t hold on to things. I bet you he had forgiven you already.’ My wolf laughed. I reminded her that he deserved the hit.

“I like that you feel it’s that easy to go your own way if you don’t like their way.” I wasn’t going to bring up his last attempt.

I let my head fall back into the couch. Closing my eyes to think about his question. “I don’t know my fate.-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I know where it is they want me to go. But the choice is mine.” Opening my eyes I found his eyes looking at me.

“I’m not the best person to follow on these things. Spirits… I closed them out for years.” And what a mistake that had been.

“But.. when I did open up… it was like…” I place my hand on my chest abs lifted it out. “Like the world lifted off my heart.”

@HotHeadSheWolf

I nodded as I listened to her. I remembered what it was like to carry around that weight... I might not have at the time that was what it was but I was older and wiser now. “We all have a choice.” I muttered not letting myself be ashamed of my past ones. It was done and now my job was to be better.

“But you still carry the weight of the entire pack on you're shoulders...” my eyes never left her. “But you know you're going to Alpha... You won't back down from that.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Why was I still looking at him? What was I searching for here? Maybe I could what it was the spirits wanted to show me?

And then I closed my eyes for a moment again. “Call…” I swallowed hard.

“How…” what was I trying to say? “Alpha… That’s Jake’s place… I can’t steal his birth right from him… in the name of the spirits… I just punched you in the face… that is not the making of an Alpha!”

Opening my eyes again. “It’s not as easy as waking up and saying… Yeah.. I’ll do it.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
I had been waiting for that. “You aren't stealing anything, Leah. Even if the Spirit’s hadn't chosen you Jake would.” I knew it was true not only was she next in line by blood and in rank. She was the obvious choice. #Jake and I were best friends our entire life and #Quil too of course.

But the way Quil and I were when we patrolled and fought together. We were made to be wielded as a pair by our alpha. Had make not taken his role as alpha it likely would have been the three >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< us.

“Have you spoken to #Jake about all of this?” I asked, still watching her posture and eyes so she couldn't hide the truth. Not that she would lie... But she was known for diverting conversations when they started to make her uncomfortable, and talkong about feelings wasnt her strong suit

@BadBoyEmbryCall parting my lips to disagree with him, but I stopped. Narrowing my eyes at the point he made about #Jake picking me.

A scoff left my chest, because for some reason I didn’t think it was true. And rightfully so. “Jake… for him to think I could take the role would mean for him to step down… and I don’t want to believe that he is willing to do that. Because if he wants that… Then it means we mean nothing to him right?”

Spirits… shocked washed over me when I heard myself. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - Is that what was stopping me?

I shook my head at his next question. Because how was I meant to explain to him what I was about to do the last time #Jake and I spoke alone.

“Do you want a drink? I need a drink.” I didn’t wait for an answer, getting up I took the melted ice bag and the peas to the kitchen to find the hard stuff.