@HotHeadSheWolf
< was the generic assumption: human contact equals comfort. But people weren’t 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕫𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕝𝕝. I prided myself on being able to tell what people needed. At least, for the people I cared about and something time that meant contact even when they thought the didn't need or want it, like when I hugged her in Seattle. Sometimes it meant giving them room to breathe.

Right now... She need to breathe.

“He did really well understood you know. He didn't panic... He was in shock >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< and couldn't think straight. So he called for help. He asked for help... He did and you Mom proud. He did Harry proud.”

I stepped back again. “You made him proud getting her here so fast. Take all the time you need. I’ll stay with them until you get back, no matter how long... #Quil can take mom home if it gets late.”

I had work, but the was several hours away. And Joe Walker was a lot of things... But when it came to family matters, I new I could call and tell him I >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I wanted to touch him, just a squeeze of the arm, of a touch of a finger. Tell him 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦. That him stepping up for Ma and the Kid, he got the meaning of Family. It was more than a word to us, and his actions proved it to me each time.

I glanced over him and saw #Quil give me a half smile waiting with #MsC for the elevators. The nod from him said. ‘We got the kid, don’t worry.’ But this also meant that he saw what -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I looked like right now, and he heard some if not all of what was said.

I took a few steps back away towards the doors. “You got them.. See you soon.” I said before turning around and walking out of those doors without looking back.

The thudding in my heart pushed the fear I felt higher, the pain of seeing my Ma in pain threatened to show itself. I willed myself, as I broke into a run as soon as I was outside. Heading straight for the forest and out of sight of people.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I could so many unsaid things in her eyes... I acknowledged them all with a small smile and the slightest lowering of my chin.

"We've got them." I added and I turned away when she did... Watching her go would set alarms bells off for #Quil and full-blown sirens for Mom.

But as I walked to the lift to join them I felt a tug on my left shoulder to just glance back. But I didn't. Her thumping heart didn't make it easy.

Mom looped her arm through mine and we stepped into the >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Elevator. 'She will be fine, sweetheart.' She said.

"Leah?" I asked raising a brow. "Of course, she will. She's a Clearwater." I smiled and the lift started to rise. I was tempted to text her and tell her to take as long as she needed. I would be here. But I had told her that I knew she heard me and trusted I would stick to it. Texting her would only make me feel better.

It was what I did with the guys when things happened... keeping in contact, making >

@HotHeadSheWolf
sure they knew I was there. And for them, it was the best thing to do, the regular reassurance.

Leah didn't work like other people. she had her way... and she would be back when she was ready.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

There was nowhere I could go and not be heard. There was no way I could run all the way back to Ma’s for my bike just for this. And there was NOWAY I would leave to go that far with Ma in hospital and the Kid in turmoil.

The best I could do for myself was this, staying on two legs I ran, I ran as fast as the spirits blessed me. Ducking and turning from the trees and their branches. Jumping and the fallen logs and rocks.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The pressure building with every stride I took, the air in my lungs not even at its capacity. I was in pain and my body felt nothing. I pushed, and pushed, and pushed some more. Needing to feel something. Anything!

‘STOP! Leah!!!! STOP!’

She halted me at the precipice of the edge, pushing my body back from taking the leap I knew too well that I couldn’t make on two legs.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘You can’t hurt yourself like that, they need you.’ She growled from within me. ‘You can’t become so blinded with your grief. This isn’t who you are anymore.’

She spoke to the lost girl who tried everything in her power to punish yourself when she killed the only man who loved her.

“I…” I couldn’t think. All I saw right now was where I wanted to be. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

So, I took off running to the rivers edge where I knew I could made the crossing.

‘Shift!’ She told me.

“No!” I snapped back.

‘LEAH! SHIFT!’ She pushed to come out. But I held her bad.

“NO!!!” I screamed at her and the took the leap over the Cullen’s treaty line.

I ran as hard and fast as I could before my legs were taken out from under me. I tumbled, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

my body rolled into a ball as I hit the ground with velocity. And then came to a stop.

My face was in the ground. My breathing harder now, but not where I needed it to feel the burn.

‘Breathe Leah. She is okay, Ma is going to be fine.’

But all I saw was her blood that had been spilled on my watch.

“I should have been there. I should have done.. I should have….”
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Should have read her mind and known she is as stubborn as you at times, and has ideas of improvement in her home? Leah. Be realistic here.’

But I couldn’t. Not when it came to Ma or the Kid. Their pain. I couldn’t take it. I burst out into a silent scream. One I had perfected over the years. When you lived where every sound was heard. And you were judged. There had to be an outlet that no spirit warrior could hear.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

My body tensed and my fists banged into my chest. Making that hurt rush out. My eyes closed as I let out everything that had been building into that volcano that needed to be let free.

She didn’t say anything, she watched. She protective, and held my soul, she cradle me as she had from the moment I excepted her as mine. My wolf let me have my moment. She Let me be a kid, with the fear riding me. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

She know I couldn’t lose my only Parent. Not like this. Not after what I had taken from my famIly and this world.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I was distracted until we got to the room the #Sue was in. I heard Mom whisper something to #Quil about how I hated being here… but that wasn’t exactly true. I felt a lot of things here. I spent a few horrible days and night in the ER here and then the treatment that kept Mom ali— healthy happened here too.

I smiled brightly at the ghostly woman in the bed. She was laying against #Seth’s lanky frame perched awkwardly in the edge of the bed one foot still firmly on the floor. >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Or it would be awkward for a human. The Kid looked wholly unphased.

“Well, well! Look at you, as beautiful as ever! Worrying us all just for attention are you?” I lied with beaming smile. #Sue lifted her hand to her cheek like she did when she blushed. But no colour stained her cheeks.

‘Oh stop!!’ she waved me off with a tired laugh. Mom was already at her side adjusting the pillow her injured hand rested on more carefully than I thought I would ever be capable of.

>

@HotHeadSheWolf
< #set extricated himself, leaving a kiss on the top of his mother’s head. He looked from me to #Quil and the door. ‘She just needed some air.’ #Quil said before I to.

Our attention went back to the women who we heard. ‘You shouldn't have came, Tiffany. You could pick up all kinds of infection that could set you back.’ #Sue was insisting.

‘Nonsense.’ Mom replied. ‘This isn't just like any old appointment, how many emergency trips to the hospital have you made for me?’

I >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< could see the 𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕕𝕚𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕥 in #Sue’s eyes but she would never dare say it. Even though all of us, Mom included were well aware it was different.

But I also knew the value of Mom being her for her dear friend too. That boost to her would of being the supportive hand she has always been was needed too.

“Jacob is bringing you a little sleepover kit so you can spend the night in style.” Just like that my phone rang and I excused myself. After I stepped into the hall >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< and explained to Jake that Leah didn't have her phone I told him where to find us. He said he could find us and I didn't need to meet them downstairs.

I took the chance to call #Joe. He answered with his usual. ‘WALKER!’ much louder than necessary.

“Hey, it’s Embry.” Joe was in his words 𝕗𝕒𝕣 𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕓𝕦𝕤𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕔𝕜 𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣 𝕀𝔻.

‘What do you need Call?’ anyone that didn't know him would take it as rude. But it was a genuine question.

“I’m at the hospital, I might not make my >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< shift tonight, can you line up #T just in case and I’ll call you with a solid answer in an hour or two.”

‘Is your Mom okay?’ He asked, abrupt but really wanting to know. I explained the situation with as few details as possible.

‘Okay so gona about I just take your place on the floor tonight and you take me to shift tomorrow? It's easier than maybe’s and what ifs.’

I agreed and thanked him. When I stepped back into the room I knew the wolves in here had heard. ‘Your >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< loss is pretty easy going.’ #Seth stage whispered.

‘I still don't like him.’ #Quil said. #Joe set his wolf’s instincts off... He set off all the wolves' instincts really.

But I was free to stick around as long as I needed to now.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I sat on my knees, kneeling forward over the water with my reflection looking back at me. I was taken back to a day when I last felt this lost and broken.

A younger, 20-year-old me, with her hair cut short, and a newly formed tattoo on her forearm. The pain of what she had done telling her that if he wasn’t on this earth, then she had no right to be too.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I closed my eyes and opened them again. And the vision was of the now. The fact I’d let my mom down
feeding the fear of losing her.

Taking the count to ten, with keep breath I started to lock myself down. When I knew that it was safe again I
opened my eyes.

Splashing some water from the river to cool and watch my face, I straightened up. That was it, the fear, the sadness, the want to punish myself pushed deep down to the point that Even I couldn’t feel it any longer.-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘We, will be fine.’ She told me, and even if I didn’t feel it. I believed it. ‘Where to?’ she asked.

“Back to Ma, and the kid.” I told her.

‘What about the house?’ She played the conversation from the hospital, the part when we were told that #MsC had been talking with #Jake and #Ness.

“After.” I told her. I knew they would take care of things. But I also knew that Ma’s level of clean wouldn’t be
met by anyone.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘After.’ She repeated as we both started back towards the way we had come. ‘We will go there after and do it the right way.’

@HotHeadSheWolf
#Jake and #Ness arrived with a bag so large that it made mom and #Sue laugh and make their 𝕚𝕤𝕟’𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕠 𝕔𝕦𝕥𝕖 faces to each other. ‘We wanted her to be comfortable.’ #Ness whispered when #Seth, #Quil and I eyed the bag that Mom was already unpacking. Setting a photo of a young #Sue and #Harry on the beside table.

‘We’ll take home whatever she doesn’t want.’ She insisted and I could see her cheeks flush. Her understanding of human needs wasn’t always quiet right, I draped my >

@HotHeadSheWolf
arm over her shoulder and kissed the top of her head “You did good little one.” I whispered even though it was pointless, they all heard. All but the two women carefully arranging a hand-woven blanket across the patient's lap, whispering about what 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕜𝕚𝕕𝕤 we were.

The hybrid beamed and swatted #Jake’s chest. ‘Told you.’ He just rolled his eyes and smiled she pushed past all of us and pulled out an iPad she must have sweet-talked someone into lending her, I knew she >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< didn’t own one. She stood by the bed, keeping a cautious distance. I could see that seeing a human she cared about in such a frail state was getting to her… so many people in her life were indestructible. It was a hard pill to swallow.

‘We brought your book too… but I downloaded the audio version and skipped ahead to where you bookmarked. So if you aren’t feeling up to it you can listen instead.’ She leaned in conspiratorially and whisper. ‘I downloaded season one of >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Bridgerton. I hear it's the steamiest.’ She grinned.

I left them to it and turned to Jake asking him about the house. ‘All cleaned and locked up.’ He assured me that when it came to blood Nessie knew how to clean up. It made sense, given that she mostly lived off of it.

When they left I convinced #Quil to take Mom too. He offered to stay in my place and I told that was my role as Third. To be here for the kid, and it was true. But mostly it was the promise i had made.

I >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< knew #Seth was worried, about his mom… and his sister. His eyes kept moving to the door. “She’s fine, Pup.” I whispered as #Sue dozed off. The wasn’t the truth… so I corrected myself. “Leah 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 be okay, she’ll be back.”

‘I know, I know.’ He finally stopped chewing on his thumbnail. ‘You don’t have to stay you know… I’ve got this.’

“I know you do… You’ve got her, I’ve got you. I can be here or in the waiting room. It’s your choice.” This wasn’t unusual, this was the >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

When I arrived back at the hospital, I kept my eyes forwards and my hands pushed down deep into my jeans. No one at a glance would tell that the broken youngster had come out to show her pain now.

‘Leah!’ I heard my name being called from behind me. Stopping as I saw #Debbie trying to catch up.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

She wanted to stop me, to tell me that Ma’s room was over flowing with visitors, and that she would go and ask them to leave so that I could go in.

“It’s okay. I can wait.” I told her, even if she gave me that ‘I don’t believe you’, look.

I remained in the lobby, pacing back-and-forth but knowing that Ma was in good hands. Finally I gave up and went to the cafeteria to buy a selection of sandwiches, and whatever else I could get my hands on before coming out.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘There you are.’ My Alpha stood in front of me. ‘I’ve been following your scent all over the hospital.’ He pushed his shoulder into my forearm. ‘She is going to be okay Leah.’

I knew this. “Thanks for…” he frowned at me and cut me off.

‘Since when do you thank anyone for doing their duty? This was our duty, we all wanted to be here and do whatever we could for Sue. No thanks needed.’
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

He told me that they were heading out, that Embry was still with Ma and #TheKid, I looked to the clock on the wall and the time frowning.

Once #Jake was gone, I ran as fast as I could up the stairs. The elevator wasn’t fast enough for me. Rushing and slowing down at the same time when I reached the correct floor I dived around people to reach Ma’s room.

I wasn’t out of breath, but my head was pounding in my chest. I saw them both sat there in the room, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

with Ma on her bed asleep. I spend a moment of ten to long looking her over, listening to her heart and her breathing.

Then I looked around the room. The photo of Ma and Da by her side, and her favourite blanket draped over her bed. Her book, an iPad, and a full bag of things set to the side.

#TheKid was already looking to the door before I came in, his shoulders had been tense, but dropped a little on seeing me.

“Are we moving in?” I muttered under my breath. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Not waiting for a reply, my eyes found Embry, and I wanted to say so much to him. But I tapped my wrist. “Call, you’re going to be late for work. You need to head out.”

I hadn’t meant to be gone this long. I hadn’t paid attention to the Burden I was placing on his shoulders.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I knew that #Seth heard the hurried footsteps in the hallway too. It was much quieter than a human would be when they ran, but not out of our hearing range. Especially not #Seth's, he had always had the most sensitive hearing of us all. Something I always thought of as an extension of his kindness.

He gave me a look as if to say, 𝒟𝑜𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝕆𝕂𝔸𝕐 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊?

'#Ness went a little overboard.' #Seth offered his sister a smile. 'The nurses said she's doing fine, her blood >