@HotHeadSheWolf
< all the time.”

I smiled at her. “You know that better than any of us.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The lines between my eyebrows deepened, at that observation he made for himself. He wasn’t sorry? Hmm… that was something that came from growth, right?

‘Evolution.’ She whispered.

“It’s not about what Jake deserved, it’s more…” Biting the inside of my cheek I sat up. Placing my now empty glass on the table before sitting back. “… It’s more to do with the fact that you had undergone these thoughts and not spoken about them. They are used to knowing everything -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - you think and feel…”

It was an assumption I had made about this man because it was all he said. ‘𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.’ How far from the truth that was for some things, while for others it may have been true.

Combing my fingers through my hair I shifted to let it fall down the back of the couch. My eyes on him catching that smile of his. Didn’t that smile used to be some cocky thing that I wanted to punch off his face?

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall - ‘No more thoughts of punching.’ She turned my attention to my hand that was no longer smarting.

“Are you sitting in my house, telling me that I’m not flawless Embry Call? Because we all know I am perfection incarnate.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
“It wasn't something I was hiding from all of you, I was hiding from myself.” I sighed and dropped my eyes for just a second while I got a hold of myself. “I know that it's a normal fear to have when you have a family member on the transplant list. But it’s Mom... You know?” my throat started to feel thick. “She’s a fighter... She can’t...”

The lump in my throat cut off my words. My hand dragged through my hair and I worried my bottom lip. I swallowed hard,

“Most of the >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< time it's easy to stay positive... But sometimes... Not often... when I'm alone it's harder to keep the darker thoughts out.”

I laughed at her, the smile was genuine but smaller than usual. “I think that's exactly what I said.” I teased. “But you're a whole lot closer than the rest of us...”

@BadBoyEmbryCall there was something about seeing this side of him. The rawness of it was true and unbidden, taking ownership of those dark moments wasn’t easy.

And I knew the two sides of this coin too well, I knew what it meant to think of the best and then fight the worst when you were on your own.

I saw everything he did and said. My eyes missing nothing. The worry, the lip bite hiding something more or showing his uncertainty? The smile that wasn’t fully there. And that laughter. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - “Don’t do that.” My voice low and calm as I spoke. “This mechanism you have, hiding behind your laughter. It dirties the waters for when you are truly happy.”

I knew I had no right to say it. But still. “Aren’t you the one who tells me to live in the moment, and to stop overthinking and planning? I know it’s hard to… when it’s your mom… but have faith… in her… in the spirits… what is meant to be… is what will come to pass.”

‘Think of taking your own advice sometimes?’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - she dug in there without a breath.

I told her this wasn’t about me. And to keep her comments to herself tonight.

@HotHeadSheWolf
Was that what I was doing? Was I hiding behind the always happy guy that people had grown to expect from me?

“I don't even know why I do that.” I admitted without meaning to. “That is good advice most of the time. But it didn't serve me too well tonight wine I spoke without thinking.”

I shrugged a little, catching the scent of the night air through the open window. “But honestly... I feel better. I know Jake will forgive me, and maybe now things can go back to normal until >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Taking a few long slow deep breaths I closed my eyes as he spoke. Listening to him and the hum coming from the windows. Bringing the two sounds one of a living person and the other of the our ancestors together.

“I don’t think we know half the time why we do stuff. Sometimes it just becomes a thing until someone stands up and shows us a mirror.”

My wolf flashed the moment our eyes landed on him at the underground fight, then when he fought his way into the changing room. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - I shook the thoughts back away. I got the message.

Opening my eyes I turned my head to look up at the ceiling, letting my head fall back into the couch again.

“You and Jake, you’re li—“ I stopped and corrected myself. “— are brothers. He knows where you came from. I don’t think he will ever hold the delivery of the message against you. The part he may hold you up on is not telling him sooner.”

Swallowing hard, because I knew that went for me too. But I couldn’t.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I smiled, this time at the irony of her words. She was right... He was probably still wide awake with Nessie right now... asking her why... why did I wait, why did I hold that inside for so long. Why didn't tell him?... Hell, why didn't I scream it at him like I did tonight weeks ago?

She lay back against the couch, anything to avoid looking at me when she was saying something that revealed more of her to me. "That great advice..." I said a hint of mischief. "Have you ever >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

And there it was, some how he’d made the same connection and he wasn’t afraid of saying it too.

‘He’s a bright spark this one. I like him.’ My wolf sat up at nice again, a little too pleased as the fact that Call was ok the same page as her.

I told her to shut up, and to lay back down. If she kept this up, I’d swap out my next run. That would teach her.

“We are talking about you, and the advice you aren’t seeing. Not what I should or shouldn’t be doing.”

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall - Just because I knew what I should’ve be doing, didn’t mean it was easy and plain sailing to just step up.

I had to be ready for the fall out, the what ifs where winning. And that pissed me off too. I hated 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧?.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I knew she would go that... I just laughed softly and shook my head. I shifted closer and nudged her knee with mine. Trying to get to look back at me... That depth in her eyes that had become so apparent lately gave me insights into her that I never knew existed before.

“As much as I love talking about myself...” I teased her. “I think we're done with part of the conversation. Look... I’m not trying to tell you what to do. But you should give it some thought. Maybe even >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< talk it over with someone wiser.” I tapped a finger against her tattoed bicep, just lightly and for a split second.

“Just remember that it's an option and that Jake has your back too... All the pack... So just... Give it some thought. And if you need a sounding board you know where to find me. I've kept your secret so far... I think I could keep a few more.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The sound of my couch moving was the give away before him slipped closer, and then my hand was fisted and I lifted it up to give him a dead leg when his knee touched mine.

But my wolf stopped me, so instead I combed my fingers through my hair and then glanced over to him.

He wasn’t giving in. ‘Would you? Have you when he needed help?’ She said it again.

But then he was doing that thing with his eyes again. Just like his mom, it was like they had a way to deep dive -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - into a person’s secrets.

“I’ve done nothing but think about it.” Talking to someone wasn’t so easy, but then that’s what #TheGreatWolf had been there for.

The tightness in my chest was easier now, but it didn’t mean all was well again.

My skin felt a jolt, making the muscles in my arm react to his touch. That was new. Static electricity… it had to be…

“Are you reminding me of my own lessons to you? We call that recycled advice here Embry Call.”

My eyes reminded on -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - as I spoke now.

“It’s not fair that I am making to keep secrets. I…” needed someone to trust.

‘Trust him!’ She whispered.

“I know what I have to do, I know what they want me to do. But I’m not sure I am the right choice.”

The words came out like I was throwing them on a wall hoping they would stick and not slide to the ground.

“It’s hard to know you messed up before you were of the age to step up. So… I fucked up, before any of you arses new how to wipe your nose.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
“Have you really, though? Have sat and thought specifically about saying all of this to #Jacob?” I asked her, not because I wanted her to answer. I just wanted to hear the question, you plant a seed of it in her.

I laughed a little when she said she wasn't sure. That sounded familiar. “I've heard the before you know. When Jake phased the first time. I heard it from him... I felt it from #Sam. And honestly, I think with that hint of doubt there's no feeling of responsibility. >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< if it's handed to simply because you were the first or because of your last name... Your bloodline. Then you are entitled... It hasn't be earned, why strive to be better when your title tells you you already are. And I'll you what I told #Jake... And I still stand by it today. You may not be sure, Leah... But I am. The wind is shifting, he knows it too.”

My gaze didn't flatter from hers once. “He didn't listen to me... And it ended with brothers and sisters at what with one >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

My mouth parted at his first question, did he think I was lying to him. Of course I had.

‘Would you listen for once.’ I was about ready to lock her up and throw away the key, but I did listen.

My eyebrows pulled together, I knew it was something #Jake wasn’t sure of. But I’d forgotten he was that uncomfortable with the choice he made to break away and become his own pack. Of course he hadn’t expected #Seth and me to follow suite. But that’s another story.

“You told Jake -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - that? I didn’t know.”

I was thinking about all outcomes that could play out. What I had figured was that it would go a way that would cause issues.

“How do you know? There go way you could know that if…. IF I stepped up.. it would be smooth Sailing.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
“I did but he decided he wasn't ready... And maybe at the time it wasn't right for him. But I know he has regrets, he feels like he turned us against each other when he broke from #Sam.”

I shook my head and smiled. “I never said it would be smooth sailing. But that doesn't mean it's not with going. And as for how I know...” I shrugged. “It just makes sense… you’re dedicated, you’re a natural leader, you’re fair and honest to a fault. You were always a great strategist even >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Speechless… for the first time in my life, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk, or I didn’t want to part take in the conversation. It was that I had no words.

What is a woman to even say to so many observations being made about them all in one go?

How… when… what… so many questions were all whipping around in my head when my mind stopped spinning from the bombardment from Call.

How did he come to such conclusions?

When did he have the time to find such insight?

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall - What had been seen in my family to know where and how we all stood, together and alone?

Where was I even to start answering him?

Then when he spoke about how things were changing. Him being a Spirit Warrior, #Ness being an imprint, #TheGoofball and his #Nerd. And how they came together. #Collin himself being a Spirit Warrior was a change in itself.

And then it came to Bloodlines… the Clearwater’s and where we sat on the chain.

I curled one arm around my face. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - Closing my eyes and letting it all sink in.

“Why hadn’t I even thought about this part? If I steeped up… what would it mean for all those who are different?”

The question was more to myself. But, I had to say it out loud. Just so I knew I wasn’t losing my touch.

@HotHeadSheWolf
< more capable of showing them their place.

“Did I you ever stop and think what it could mean for the others… the girl’s especially, the kid’s that will come along, even council… a female Alpha is a game changer. They’ll have step out of the dark ages and start seeing things in a light.” I knew it was a lot to put on her shoulders. But she always carried the weight of the world on them.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

My body jerked upright, and I sat up combing my fingers through my hair, pulling it to the side.

“Call…” the Spirits… my mind was reeling now. It took someone on the outside of the want from me to notice the things I had been missing. “No…. I hadn’t thought….” I had thought so much. About all the things… how me stepping up would break what was there and in place.

“Fuck…” biting the inside of my cheeks. I frowned looking at the boy who now was becoming a man. How had he -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - seen what I somehow hadn’t?

“I…. Spirits.” Standing up I stepped around his long legs and made my way back to the open windows. Standing in the middle of it I looked out and then closed me eyes.

The wind blew into my hot skin, settling as the whispering sang to me.

‘Naquu agowadvdi digvwalosv atsvsdv.’
( Now see through the light. )

“Light? How had I been in the darkness when you were all with me all this time?” I whispered back.

Why had Call been the one and -

@HotHeadSheWolf
I could see my words sinking in... and even though there was no way she knew she was doing it, I saw those high walls she kept around herself fall away as she crossed the room.

I didn't say anything, I just let her think... and those words she whispered... they weren't for me. The breeze through the window carried her scent to me again, my stomach di that oddly satisfying and very confusing twisting thing again.

It was hard not to stare when she was lost in thought like this.>

@HotHeadSheWolf
< The light from the lamp she'd lit cast her in shadow against the cloud-covered moonlight coming from outside.

After a long moment, I moved quietly from the couch and stood behind her. Putting my hand on her arm without really thinking about what I was doing.

"It's a lot to think about, Leah." I broke my silence. "You don't need to make any hard and fast decisions right away... you need to look at it from all the different "angles.