@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 >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< pressure is coming back up steadily.'

I watched the way they both looked over #Sue, and my chest tightened. I had been where they are, this was how they all felt when they stood and watched me stand over my own mother's sick bed. I shook that off.

"It's okay." I told her. "I switched shifts with Joe." I added quickly before she could say anything else. "Family first." That was the rule, right? I wasn't losing out on a day's pay, I wasn't letting anyone down. Family and >

@BadBoyEmbryCall Nodding my head to acknowledge #TheKid, my dark eyes were on the monitors as he gave me Ma’s update. I held myself beside the door, but just inside so that it would close behind me. I also made a note to thank #Ness in my own way, something told me that this visit wouldn’t have been easy on her. I knew that she could speak to #Jake about everything and anything, but still I always gave her to option to have my ear if she needed it.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Embry had me stood looking at him, it was #TheKid clearing his throat. ‘I’m going to go grab us all some coffee.’ He spoke. I held the bag in my hand up telling them both I got whatever food I could from downstairs. #TheKid took it and put it down on the side table before walking past whispering. ‘Don’t be too hard on him please.’ And then the door closed.

Looking to Embry, I didn’t say anything. I just shrugged my jacket off -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

as I walked to my Ma’s bedside and set it down over the back of the chair. Looking down over her, I softly combed so stray hair out of her eyes. She looked peaceful, that pained looked on her forehead gone for now. Only when I was sure she was indeed asleep and pain free, did I step back keeping my voice low as I spoke so that #TheKid didn’t hear me.

“You are playing the rules card at me now? For someone who doesn’t really do rules, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

you were fast to understand them.” I half smiled but there was too much amiss from it right now. I couldn’t find it in me to mean anything. “I don’t like you owing Walker anything, especially because of me.” What was that man going to ask as Payback for this favour I wondered. “I didn’t mean to mess you about with your work, I –“ I was lost for works, so I took a step back with my eyes locked.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Telling him that I was sorry for putting him in this situation, for placing what was meant to be my responsibility on his shoulder. That I failed my Ma today, and now #TheKid and him too. I wanted him to hear it all, but words never came easily to me.

@HotHeadSheWolf
My stomach growled when She mentioned she'd brought food. I had been so distracted that I hadn't even smelled it when she walked in.

I didn't say anything to #Seth as he left. I knew he was leaving his Beta and Third-In-Command alone for a moment as much as he was leaving his sister and his friend.

Her smile was half-hearted and I knew why, she believed this to be her responsibility, her burden to bear alone. But she didn't get to do that... she couldn't tell us that we >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< couldn't be here for a vital supporter of the pack when she needed us, that we couldn't stand her and hold up our brother while he care for his mom, because she would never look for that kind of support. I knew that she knew that too... her dual natures had to be warring with one another right now.

"It's not about the rules..." I whispered. "Not just, at least... #Seth was... When I picked him up he was... panicked. I wouldn't have left even if you stayed. You know that." >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Then I took a breath and stood in front of her, fighting the urge to touch her arm or her shoulder... any of the normal comforting gestures that wouldn't mean the same thing to her.

I knew if it were my mother in that bed she would lay her hand on my shoulder, because that was what I would need... but this was about what she needed. Not that she would admit to needing anything... but that was okay. "And I don't owe Joe >

@BadBoyEmbryCall When he told me how he found #TheKid, my bucket of sins grew. I knew I should have been there for my younger brother. The fear he must have felt in the moments that followed when he didn’t know what took place, just that it had been our mothers blood that had been spilt.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“I know…” I gave in because that was Embry. He was the one that always stayed with all the pups and the pack. I didn’t have a bone in my body that could be still long enough. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Not as he did. And He was a calming influence too. No matter the reason the pack were in this place, or anywhere. Embry Call somehow knew how to show them a light and the silver lining.

He came to stand before me, and I saw how his fingers twitched. And without the words needed, I knew what he wanted to do, and knew he wouldn’t too.

I rubbed my temples with my index and second finger. I wanted to tell Embry, that I may not know Joe Walker, but I knew men like him -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

very well That it may seem like he wanted nothing for these things, but someday He would ask for his pound of flesh. And I wouldn’t be able to stand back and let that happen. But now wasn’t the time.

I stepped back to the table the bag of food sat on and slowly and carefully started to remove everything from inside. A mix of a few sandwiches, some bags of chips. A few slices of pies and cake. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - Really the as a meal it made no sense, it had been what my hands reached for when my heart and mind were elsewhere.

“Will you eat something now?” I asked him over my shoulder. “I know it’s not home cooked, and if Ma wakes up she will have a million reasons why we shouldn’t eat any of this.” I heard the footsteps of #TheKid coming back, and knew he could hear us. “But it’s something, right?” I threw a bag of chips over my head knowing that he would catch them.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I knew that she was punishing herself. but I couldn't do anything about that right now... maybe not at all. But I could try, when the time was right.

"He did really well... he froze for a second, but instead of giving in to it... he asked for help. He did you proud." I smiled.

I smiled when she asked if I would eat... it wasn't that I hadn't eaten... anytime one of us left the room we came back with something... but her haul was far better than the vending machine fodder >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< that we had settled for.

"Hell yeah, I will," I said with as much enthusiasm possible while still keeping my voice down. "Pie!!!" I whispered-screamed when the slices started to appear from the bag then, I had the lid flipped open on a slice of pie and a bamboo forkful shovelled into my mouth before I could reply.

"This..." I pointed the ridiculously tiny fork at the spread. "Is everything."

"We'll make the kid eat and I'll convince him to go home. He can stay at The >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Sanctuary." I said this knowing that he would hear me. I gave her a look that said so many things that I couldn't say with the world's most sensitive ears so close by. 'Will you be okay here?' 'I can leave him with #Quil and come back.' I knew she would say no. 'I'll just be a text message away.' 'I really don't want to leave here without hugging you or something similar that will piss the fuck off.'

'You know I heard you talking about me right?' #Seth snatched the bag out >

@HotHeadSheWolf < the air and smirked.

"Good." I turned to face him; shovelling in another tiny bite of pie and spoke with food in my mouth. "Because it's happening. You can take my bed... just this once."

'Thank you... But I think I should stay. Just in case, and you know Leah won't leave either.' He insisted.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I rubbed my forehead with the back of my hand and turned away from Embry the moment I heard the kid’s hand on the door.

I heard his unsaid words, but I couldn’t. Not right now. I couldn’t deal with it.

When I turned back my eyes rolled at the sight of Embry’s big hands with that small fork in his hands. “Spirits.”

I rolled my eyes again smacking the kid upside the head to keep his voice low, ma shifted and winced in her sleep. And my heart stopped and it stung to see it-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

To see the pain on her face.

“Listen kid, Mac and Charlie have close up, however we need to make sure someone it there for the delivery. We both know Mac will step up. But we won’t do that to him.”

He was about to speak. “Also we cannot have the three of us missing runs. I know Sam, Paul, Jay, Quil will all step up with Jake. But again. We have a duty to the pups and the packs too. Clearwaters will not back down.”

His face changed from the son of a mother, to a -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Brother of a pack.

‘What about you?’ He took the pie and the fork I handed him.

“What about me, I got this. And you will come once your run is over and then I will take over. We got this Kid.”

He was frowning. When I looked to Embry and then back to him. “You did Ma proud today. We got to keep it up. Go with Call. Get some rest. I got this from here.”

I believed in that for now. Even if I kept telling myself that she shouldn’t have been left to do this to herself.

@HotHeadSheWolf
My eyes moved between the siblings. After seeing that #Sue had settled I buried the pang in my chest... It was an all too familiar feeling.

"I can rope one of the pups into helping with the delivery before my run tomorrow if you'd like. #MAc can do the business end and we can do the heavy lifting." I offered.

"As for runs... we can cover it so you two can be with your Mom for a few days. She'll need help at home and you guys will need to take turns at the bar."

I could see >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< the pride on his face. but it quickly flooded with self-doubt and I resisted the urge to shake the kid. I could talk to him later.

'You need to sleep too, sis. I'll come back in the morning and promise you'll go from and rest?' He was resigned to the fact that she was going to make sure that he got home.

I wanted to insist that Leah sleep too.. but I knew it would be days before that happened. And it wasn't like I could have that conversation with her right now. I >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Finished the pie and tossed the plastic box into the trash can in the corner, careful not to let the lid slam when I lifted my foot off the pedal.

"Okay come on kid." I pulled out my phone. I'll get Quil to set up the sofa bed for you." I said and started to type.

'Thanks, bro' but I think I really just want to head home.' He was trying to do the independent thing... but he was independent. He had nothing to prove.

"Cool." I said without missing a beat. "I'll sleep on the >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< couch." His jaw twitched to protest and before he spoke. I continue. "Fine, you can sleep on the couch. I'm not gonna turn down a bed when it's on offer." I rested my hand on his shoulder. "One night Pup... just indulge me?" I raised my brows and grinned. #Seth huffed but that smile of his showed through and I knew it was a yes. I winked at Leah... not a flirtatious wink. My normal 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝓂 𝑜𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓃𝓈𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃 wink and it went to say goodbye to #Sue.

I touched her >

@HotHeadSheWolf
<Forehead lightly and whispered. "Goodnight beautiful." I smiled as she stirred from her light doze. "I'll come to check on you tomorrow."

'Don't worry about me, sweetheart. I'll be just fine.' She said softly.

"Oh, I know. you are tough as nails. But I will just be a wreck if I don't see for myself." I grinned.

"Oh, you really do have your Father's charm.' she patted my cheek and I repressed my flinch. It was the painkillers. That was all. #Sue would never...

I kissed >