@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘NO! NO… I promise you….’ The pup moved from foot to foot pulling on the collar of his shirt.

‘Sis, would you stop messing with the pup. He brought us all food.’ #Seth placed a protective arm around the pups shoulder and squeezed him. ‘She’s always in a bad mood when she doesn’t sleep. It’s why I put her to sleep.’

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The pup’s eyes moved from my brother and then to me and back again. ‘I should go.’

“No.. No, you shouldn’t. get your arse in the kitchen and eat some breakfast with us, and then I promised you, and Fuller that you could see Ma today.” Looking out at the street and the other Pup made his way up the path. “Speaking of.”

Letting the boys set up breakfast I went to brush my teeth and clean up, seeing the missed text from this morning from -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Embry. I knew he was right, but I also knew myself. And I wasn’t going to be able to leave Ma, not while she was hurting.

[𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚗𝚘 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙. 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝙸 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜.]

@HotHeadSheWolf
#Quil and I ate, and I had the mid-morning run. For #Quil, it was time with his imprint and I would probably go to see Mom for a while before I spent a little with Bear too... before she had to go home.

I waited for #Quil to go to the bathroom before I took out my phone and smiled at my phone.

[𝙸 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍. 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚝𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸'𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎... 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗, 𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝙶𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝙼𝚘𝚖 𝚊 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚞𝚙. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚂𝚞𝚎 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚏𝚊𝚋𝚞𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚎.]

I felt the need for a >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Shower... but i didn;t see the point. would just grab one at Jake's after my patrol and save myself a trip home.

I finished eating and washed the dishes. by the time #Quil was done in the shower, we made short work of tidying up and putting the leftover food in the fridge. There was enough left for both of us to get a decent dinner. That young pup always planned ahead.

"I'll tell Mom and Sue you said hello." I told #Quil before we got into separate vehicles.

'You >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< know there's no way Claire will leave with seeing Sue and Momma T... tell them we'll drop by for a visit. We won't stay long so they can get their rest.'

I just smiled and promised I would before I pulled out.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The Mom’s both awoke to a house full of worried people. I helped Ma to shower and change before #TheKidd carried her down the stairs. ‘It’s my arm not my feet that is damaged.’ Ma said still not quite herself yet.

‘I don’t care, I’m carrying down and that’s that.’ He laughed.

Then came a soft laughter of #MsC and her giggles. ‘Put me down young man.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Someone had taken a hold of her too?

‘Nope, you are both being carried like the goodness of the Rez.’ #Brady was following the lead of #TheKid.

‘You’re listening to what’s happening inside.’ #Sam was beside me holding the door of the shed open. While I checked over everything that was in there. All the tools were backed away safely, and it was clean in here, however still Ma had injured herself.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“I like to keep an ear out.” #Sam stepping in to grab some clippers and move them to their rightful place.

‘Yeah, I know. But no sleep, thinking it’s all on your shoulders, not asking for help. Leah it’s all going to come to a head.’ Turning my head as my hands reset my Da’s tool box.

“And yet here you all are. At the hospital, now, so do I need to ask for help?” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

His wife could be seen from the kitchen window, the sound of laughter coming from the house that had too many people in there which was why I made myself useful out here.

‘And you’re out here hiding from them all.’ #Sam finished off.

“I don’t hide. Just…” he shook his head as I spoke.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Sure, sure. You came out here to investigate, how Sue was hurt, and how it can never happen again. Things happen Leah, we can’t watch over them all the time.’ There was some truth in his words, I knew it. But some part of me still couldn’t let go. ‘Come on, Emily brought some food with her. And the Pup did well with the food he brought too. We should show them some love by eating it.’

I threw a car wash sponge at his head. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Hey, I know you can eat too.’ of course he caught it.

“How about you get your arse in the kitchen and let you wife sit down.” Snapping my teeth at him that just made him laugh.

‘Have you forgotten I’m banned from ever going close to her or anyone’s kitchen?’ He was laughing.

“Stop blowing up the toasters and they will let you back in.”

‘Leah, Sam. Come in lunch is ready.’ Emily opened the door and called out. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

We both looked to the house, knowing that Emily had only done that because #MsC was there.

#Sam rushed off inside giving me a moment of alone time. Stepping back my eyes evaluated the changed I’d made in here. Bringing tools Ma was likely to come looking for lower and to the front, meaning she wouldn’t have to go hunting.

When I finally read the message Embry sent I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead, making my way inside. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I watched the people inside trying to make space and still over taking the kitchen. It was an extended family that was all here to help look out for my Ma.

Walking around Emily and Sam, I went to wash my hands before Kissing Ma and then MsC on the head and sitting down to my bowl of soup and grilled cheese. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“Your son has been checking in all night. He thinks I’d have you out all night dancing by the way he has been acting.”

‘He is a good boy.’ She spoke smiling. ‘And he knows you would take good care of me.’ Squeezing my arm.

‘Speaking of.’ #Emily held out two bags making my frown. ‘You and Seth need to go home, we have the day shift covered.’ I shook my head. ‘Leah, trust in us.’ she added giving Seth his bag. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Take your sister with you. I will call if anything changes of if we need you. But as much as I know you will say you don’t need to sleep. You do.’

“When did you become so forceful?” I asked my cousin.

‘The day she gave birth.’ #Sam replied earning himself a slap from his wife. ‘Hey! You know it’s true beautiful. He kissed his cheek and then went to sit beside #MsC.

#MsC watched every moment between us as she was taking it all in, her hand reached out and she stroked-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

#Sam’s cheek like a mother. ‘You are so luck to have such a beautiful wife who loves you so much. Make sure you never take a moment with her for granted.’ She smiled that warm smile that the Calls kept for those they cared for.

‘I promise Mama T, I will never do that. Ever.’ He kissed her forehead placing an arm around her shoulder to keep her close. He had noticed the same shiver that I had, and he knew too that #TiffenyCall did like to be ‘handled’ due to her illness.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Time to got Leah.’ #Emily told me. ‘I have an over night bag and #Seth has remade his bed for me. I’ll be here.’ Because she knew that I would say that she should be taking it easy and resting too. ‘The ladies and I will be going up for a nap soon anyway, and then we have some shop talk to do.’ Winking at the two Moms who nodded their heads in unison.

“Why do I feel like it’s a conspiracy going on here?” I asked closing my arms looking between then all.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

In the end it was Ma and #MsC who had told us to go rest, and not to worry. I knew MsC was here to help her friend and sister. But it didn’t feel right to leave them. And in that moment, I understood now what Embry had been feeling last night. Feeling like you are in the wrong place… it was a strange sentiment.

@HotHeadSheWolf
< laughed and showed #Billy.

‘Wow… They are really hunkering down over there.’ He chuckled.

I replied saying:
[𝚃𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝙵𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚏𝚕𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛!]

A reply from another pup not at the Clearwater house shot in.

[𝙷𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗! 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕!]

The exhaustion I was feeling left my body when I made it to the small grove behind the Black's house. My wolf lurched into being and brought with him an abundance of energy. As soon as the >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< other's minds linked with mine that were asking what was happening and how #Sue as I blocked out the conversation I had with Leah that night by showing them all the image of the moms getting the royal treatment.

"They're okay, Sue has recovery ahead of her but she'll be well looked after." I assured them all, and I got them all back on track. We had a job to do and #Sue would not be impressed if we didn't do it to the best of our abilities.

Today that was the only motivator >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< I needed to get them on track today.

After my run, I showered at Billy's place, and read through the conversation that had occurred in the group chat in my absence. Laughing at the back and fourth banter about who I was going to thump for flirting with my mother.

Instead of replying to them, I text Leah.

[𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚛𝚞𝚗... 𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝙼𝚘𝚖'𝚜 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎?]

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Standing under the water I closed my eyes. Visions of my Ma in the hospital flashed on a loop. The scent of her blood reminded in my nose and the way I found her made my heart stop. “I should have been there.” I told myself.

Keeping my hands flat pushed against the wall was the only way to keep the younger Leah from breaking out.

‘No, you need to understand that accidents happen. You where there when you were meant to be.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

My wolf spoke to me softly, trying to talk me down from the ledge I’d been climbing onto.

By the time I was done, with a towel wrapped around my steaming body, another in my hairs drying my hair. I stepped out of the bathroom, walking my way back into my bedroom. The sound of my phone going off brought me to the phone charging on the side.

I hadn’t replied to his last text, knowing he would be on his run and his phone wouldn’t have been with him.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

[𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗? 𝙳𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎? 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚛𝚞𝚗. 𝙽𝚘, 𝚗𝚘 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎. 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚔𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝.]

Hitting send, I went to stand before my closet. Thinking, maybe I should head out for a run? The others had picked up my slake, and I hated it..

@HotHeadSheWolf

I stole a razor from under the sink and shaved… I notice that my hair was at that awkward length where I either needed to cut it or deal with it falling into my face for another few weeks. I swept it back off of my face while it was wet and pretended as if it might just stay there after it dried. It wasn’t going to happen.

I read Leah's message and shook my head. “Of course she did.” I chuckled to myself quietly. >

@HotHeadSheWolf
>
I had really wanted to see Mom before work today… but I still had an afternoon to kill before my shift. I could let the moms have a nap and see them later… I was sure they had to be exhausted.

[𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜... 𝚆𝚊𝚒𝚝? 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘?]

I sent back… not really believing it. She had to have meant that she kicked everyone else out and not her too. I mean… #EmilyUley was a formidable woman, >

@HotHeadSheWolf
>
but would she really have talked Leah out of her mother’s house? Even if it was for her own good. I made my way out to the kitchen and poured myself a coffee.

‘I thought you would be racing off to see you’re Mom.’ Billy said from behind a copy of The Talking Raven.

“Apparently, she has been sequestered away by #Emily.” I chuckled and took a sip. “I’ll wait a while; I’m sure I’ll get a chance to see her before my shift starts.”

>

@HotHeadSheWolf
< ‘Yes, yes…. Working late nights is no problem for the young and energetic.’ Then he examined me. “Although… you aren’t looking particularly energetic right now.’ He added.

“I didn’t sleep great… fretting about #Sue, She was still really pale last time I saw her.” I admitted, and it was true… but Leah and Seth had been on my mind too.

‘You should have just stayed there last night. Sleeping on a floor is a better night's >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< rest than tossing and turning in a bed.’ He folded one corner of the tribal publication.

“I’m not so sure Leah would have stood for that… It was a miracle #Seth talked his way into staying.” I chuckled.

‘Ah… yes. Leah… I find with that one… sometimes. Asking for permission isn’t nearly as effective as just doing what it is you feel you need to.’ He smiled.

“Well… not all of us are her elders.” I smiled back

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Rolling my eyes when his message flashed up onto the screen.

[𝙷𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗? 𝙰𝚍𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗 𝙰𝚕𝚙𝚑𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚜 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚘? 𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝙴𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚜. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚋𝚢 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚝. -𝙻]

Just how stubborn did he think I was exactly? Sure, I was hard headed and sure it was -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

kind of killing me not hearing the beating heart of my Ma , however I could respect someone’s need for space. And their need to feel like they are achieving something too. And both the moms where so alike in some ways. Ms T wanted to feel like she was helping, and I know E would be there to keep things in check.

I found myself standing in the kitchen as my mind worried over everything I need to do to pay back the time all the others have put in to -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

pick up after the Kid and I. Both in the pack and with the bar. Turning in a full circle I ended up filling a glass of water to take over to the couch. Could I eat? Yeah of course, but I wasn’t feeling the pull towards cooking. So, grabbing a banana I ate it disgracing the peel before sitting now and hitting play on my phone. Something needed to calm the uncertainty I could feel building,
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

A small smirk escaped my lips when I heard the song the shuffle gods had picked for me.

“Of course.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1x1305Z1lTo

Lifting my feet up off the floor I shifted my butt, laying down outstretched on the couch, listening to the music, the words, with my eyes closed and my arm dawned over my eyes to close them with a little darkness.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I sipped my coffee and read her reply… once… twice… three times. ‘You know I’ve found that no matter many times you read something the words never change.' #Billy raised his cup to me.

I smirked. "No... but our understanding of them can."

He gave me that look like I had exceeded his expectation and laughed. 'Touche, my boy. Touche.'

I took another big gulp of the coffee and then stood up pouring the end of the cup into the sink and and setting it on the side.

'So, now >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< you're in a rush?' #Billy chuckled. 'Where are you off to?'

"Somewhere else I don't have permission to be." I grinned at him. "Mind if I leave the Jeep here for a while?"

'You should... even my old ears can hear that old girl coming a mile away.' #Billy picked up his paper again.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Uncle." I called to him already heading down the hallway to the front door. I heard the floorboards squeak as he wheeled himself to the kitchen door.

'It's been a long >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< time since called me that, Embry.' He said with a small tremble in his voice. I knew why... but the second the word slipped out; I had felt a catch in my own throat.

"Far too long." I smiled back at him.

'Let's not leave it so long next time, shall we?' The chief nodded.

"You got it." I tried to hold back a smile.

'Get outta here will you... I'm a busy man.' He shooed me with his paper and I laughed. Head ing out and making my way where I wanted to be.

The walk from >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< here was a little longer, but with music in my years but really it was just five songs. I smiled, My mother often measured time in song lengths.

But there it was... five songs later and I was knocking on Leah Clearwater's door.

And instantly remembered I hadn't texted her back. "Damn it!" I laughed at myself and pulled out my phone to turn off my music.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I must have drifted off to sleep, not sure how long had passed when the spirits came to life and began to sing, they kissed my skin with the air with a scent of….

“Embry?”

His name slipped from my lips, as Brothers Osborne’s were singing Stay A Little Longer now. https://youtu.be/s7tdIWcRZZI

But it was the spirits I honed in on. They were talking about him and his scent hit my sleepily mind, making me wake up with a shock. -