#badboyembrycall

[blazingtheway]

All Grown Up – Embry Solo

I sat listening to Mom play… it had been a good day. She had her treatment yesterday and I spent the night at home, to make sure she was okay. Then, other than my early morning run I was able to spend most of the day with her. But a phone call from a mildly panicked #Quil had me telling her goodbye and heading home.

“Everything is fine Mom, #Quil is just worried because #Claire isn’t feeling good. But she’s okay.”

‘If you’re sure… but if she has a fever…’ Mom started.

“We’ll take her to #Emily’s.” I promised.

‘You will not!’ Mom looked like I had just said I’d toss her into an ice bath. ‘#Emily is pregnant and the last thing she needs is an infection.’

“Oh…” she had a point… but I knew it wasn’t an infection. “I’ll call #Kim. She’s a nurse. But it won’t be necessary Mom… I’ll text you, okay. Just relax and enjoy your evening.”

It only took me a few minutes to get to the only pharmacy on the Rez. I hadn’t ever considered this to be a difficult task as I drove here. I mean… I was raised by a single mom… the concept of shopping for feminine hygiene products was not foreign to me. But standing here now…. This was not like throwing the familiar box that I always saw on the bathroom cabinet into the cart with the groceries…

I must have stood there too long because the woman behind the register abandoned her post and came to stand next to me, crossing her arms. After a beat, she grinned and said. ‘First time?’

I laughed. “Um… Yes and no.”

‘Girlfriend?’ She asked.

“No, no.” I chuckled. “A kid… not mine. She’s… family.”

‘Ah!’ her amused expression changed a little. ‘First period?’

“First I know of. But I wouldn’t exactly be the first person she’d tell… She’s fourteen.” I explained.

‘If it is her first then she’s lucky, so many kids are starting younger and younger now.’ She picked up two products from the shelves. ‘She might not feel comfortable with tampons if it is her first, but you should probably get them and napkins. Let her have the control over the choice. We do have the menstrual cups too if she’s the eco-friendly type. But you might want to leave that conversation between her and her parents.’

I quickly scanned the box she pointed to and nodded. “Yeah, let’s leave that one to the advanced class.” I chuckled, taking the two boxes she recommended. “But I will take these. And anything else you recommend?” I turned to smile at her.

‘Midol!’ She said without hesitation. ‘Is she allergic to any medication?’

“No… nothing like that.” I answered that confidently… there wasn’t much I didn’t know the kid… #Quil made sure we had all memorised the kid's blood type…  𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕖.

‘Oh, and a hot water bottle… it really helps with any cramps.’

I laughed, following her back to the counter, she stopped along the way and pulled something fuzzy off of a rack. “She does love unicorns.” I chuckled, pointing to the fuzz.

‘Who doesn’t?’ She shrugged unapologetically. It was only then I noticed the little unicorn-shaped silver studs pressed into her ears… this woman was at least in her late twenties. I smirked, I always had a great respect for people who so blatantly defied the expectations of the world.

She stepped behind the counter and I set everything she’d handed me down. “Thanks for your help.” I said politely… “I probably should have been a little more prepared for all this considering her age.”

‘At least you are now.’ She smiled and started scanning barcodes. ‘You’re a good brother… My big brother would never do something like this for me. He would get all embarrassed and flustered.’

I tapped my ATM card against the terminal and looked at her. I didn’t see the point in correcting her assumption, I thought of Little Bear as a sister. “Well… I don’t get embarrassed easily. But I was about two seconds away from flustered before you rescued me. So thanks again. I held up the paper bag she had packed everything into.

‘Oh.. I almost forgot.’ She stopped me as I took my first step away from the counter. She reached under the register and emerged with a box wrapped up in pink paper. ‘These boxes have information booklets and product samples for young girls, she might have seen it already it. They get passed out in schools in the area as part of the sexual health education plan. There’s even a few little pampering treats in there too.’ Then they set a folded pamphlet on the top. ‘And some basic information on birth control. We might not like to think about it for kids that age… but it's important.’

I picked them up too. “Thank you.” I said again. I knew that #Quil might struggle with that last one. “She’s a very clever girl… when she knows all her options she’ll make the choice best for her.”

When I climbed back in the Jeep I tucked the birth control information into my jacket, That was something I could give her when #Quil wasn’t around. Today’s development would already have him reeling. It was going to be a very interesting night.

Back at home, I heard the sounds of the TV from outside and two heartbeats… #Quil’s was a little faster than normal. It was only when I got closer I could tell it was the new Little Mermaid movie. Just because I recognised the song. When I opened the door They were on the couch and #Bear was wrapped up in a blanket lying against an overly concerned #Quil’s shoulder.

“Hey #LittleBear.” I smiled at the kid and hung up my jacket next to the door. “I heard you weren’t feeling too good.”

She blushed a little and curled into a tighter ball. ‘My tummy hurts.’ She complained.

“I know, honey.” I crouched in front of her and kissed her forehead, glancing up at #Quil. “But curling up like that doesn’t help. It just makes your muscles tense up even more.” She looked at me with her pale brown eyes full of questions. “I was raised by a progressive single mom.” I chuckled.  “I know stuff.” I held out the bag for her. “What does help though… is a hot shower. Why don’t you go hop in and you can get in your PJs and relax for the night, hm?” She looked like the thought of moving was the worst thing she could do. “And while you do that; we’ll get your brand-new hot water bottle ready.” I showed her the fuzzy pink thing. She finally cracked a smile.

‘That’s cute!’ She laughed a little. After a little more nudging she went to shower and change.

I fished the kettle from deep inside the corner cupboard to boil water and #Quill leaned against the counter. ‘She’s growing up too fast.’ He said as if it was a tragedy. And I knew it was how he truly felt. He filled me in… telling me her first period was last month and she did not really know how to tell him.

Even in the pack, it was difficult for some to understand his relationship with #Claire. But I knew my brother, and all he wanted right now was for #Claire to stay a little girl and live a carefree, wonderful life full of all the innocent joys of being a kid. So she would never know heartbreak or the stresses that went along with growing up. If he could, right now… he would hit the pause button and keep her at this age indefinitely. To him, #Claire was always the absolute greatest version of herself exactly as she was in every individual moment of her life.

I knew that as soon as #Bear made peace with her new developments, he would be too. It might have sounded fickle… but it was actually the most incredible evolution I have ever witnessed. How two people so extremely different, could make each other so perfectly happy and with zero expectations or pressures on either party.

I had to stop myself from letting my mind wander to @HotHeadSheWolf at that thought.

#Quil wasn’t in a rush for the #LittleBear to grow up, or for their relationship to change in any way. He just wanted her to be happy and healthy… and not in pain. Which she clearly is tonight.

I knew I should have told him that actually, most fourteen-year-old girls got their period. They dated, they had crushes, got heartbroken… got hurt… got sick.

But because he was my best friend, my brother… and because he was fearful of this new phase of life that his sole reason for existing was entering I said. “I know, far too fast.” Instead. “She’ll be okay. I got her something for the pain too.” After a beat of silence. “Did you call her mom?”

‘No.’ #Quil shook his head. ‘She said she’s a woman now and she needs to 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕝.’ He air-quoted the last word with a bitter tone.

“Wow… that's a lot of sass for our #LittleBear.” I shook my head with a small grin. #Quil agreed and pinched the bridge of his nose. I heard the water in the bathroom shut off and I patted my brother’s shoulder.

“You know what I forgot?” I told him. “Icecream. Why don’t you run out and grab her some Rocky Road? You’ll be a hero… Give me a few minutes with her, too.”

It wasn’t something #Quil would question. He knew I loved her like a baby sister. None of us really knew what being imprinted on at such a young age would do to her development. And it wasn’t like we could use #Nessie as an example. Claire had shown some interest in dating and then completely lost even faster than the desire had made itself known. We weren’t sure why but it wasn’t because she’d been hurt… as far as we knew the date in question hadn’t actually happened.

The sound of #Quil’s car had faded by the time #Claire came out of the bathroom in her pyjamas and a towel wrapped around her head. She looked around, confused. “He just went to the store… and I wanted to talk to you.”

‘I really don’t want to talk about it. So embarrassing!’ she huffed and crossed the kitchen opening the fridge and staring in, even though I knew that she wasn’t really looking for anything.

“It's not embarrassing #Bear… at least, it shouldn’t be. Is it because we’re guys? Because if that is the case I can get any of the girls here that you want to talk to.” I leaned against the table letting her move from cupboard to cupboard just for a distraction or an excuse not to look at me.

‘Ugh! It’s not a guy thing!! That’s so Gen X…  It’s a…’ She stopped, huffed and crossed her arms and glared at me. If looks could kill… but at least I had her attention.

“It’s a #Quil thing?” I offered. And she burst into tears like I’d just kicked her puppy.

Shit!

“Okay… It’s okay, #LittleBear.” I crossed the room to hug her and I guided her to the couch where her hot water bottle was waiting a long with two pills and a glass of water on the table. “Take this and it will help with your tummy.”

When she stopped sobbing, I kissed the top of her head and asked. “Why didn’t you tell him when you got your first period?”

‘I was hoping I could get away with not telling him for a while.’ She admitted. ‘It’s just… He always stays the same and I… I keep growing up and… he…’ She shook her head, struggling to understand.

“Sweetie… you are growing up. Hiding from it isn’t going to stop it. You understand why #Quil and I don’t get older, right?” We had explained almost everything to her a few years ago.  Almost. She was noticing how we didn’t change.

‘I know… I know… but what happens when I’m not a kid anymore.’ She hugged the unicorn hot water bottle to her belly. ‘He won’t take care of me anymore.’

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “Oh #Bear.” I hugged her again and shook her playfully. “I love you more than my own life…. but that is the stupidest thing you have ever said.”

She slapped my chest lightly. having learned her lesson from trying to slap us in the past. “And as much as I love you #LittleBear, it's barely a drop in the ocean of how much #Quil loves you. He will always, always take care of you.”

‘He seemed… upset when I told him.’ #Claire said.

This was where things got a little complicated. #Quil hadn’t wanted to explain imprinting to her. He was worried it would warp her teenage experience and #Jacob and I had agreed when he came to us about it. Mostly because when it came to #Claire… #Quil would always know best.

“I know… And I know you think he wants you to be his little #ClaireBear forever… I know that he thinks that too. But I know better than the both of you.” I smirked and she held her unicorn tighter, rolling her eyes at me. “He was upset because you were… and that’s okay… You’ve got a lot going on. But he can’t stop himself from feeling what you’re feeling. Part of growing up means you need to stop and understand that too. He will always take care of you… no matter what, but sometimes… you’ll have to take care of him too. Take a moment to try and understand how he feels. You don’t even have to get it right, or you can just ask him outright. Okay? It will mean everything that you tried.”

She nodded solemnly. ‘I was being selfish?’

I laughed and little and hugged her. “No. You were being stubborn… and a little silly. You don’t need to hide things from #Quil, it just makes him worry. You’re allowed to have secrets… but things like this? There’s no reason to hide them…” I wasn’t going to tell her we could smell these changes…. That sounded creepy enough to let her imprint handle.

“He will always want what is best for you. And you are a clever girl… sensible… I trust you to make those choices wisely. That means that you will always be working toward the same goal. He will always support your goals and dreams. As long they aren’t… you know…” I struggled to find a word, then decided the first one I was going to say was good enough. “Stupid… or… dangerous.”

‘So as long as I don’t decide I want to the a co-star on Teen Mom?’ She teased and terrified me all at once.

“Speaking of teen pregnancy!” I said, just because I knew she thought I wouldn’t follow that thread. I retrieved the pamphlet from my coat and handed it to her. “Do we need to have this conversation?”

She scanned the front page and shook her head. ‘No… I know what all the choices are… But I’m not…’ Now she was embarrassed. ‘I don’t think I want a date... I thought I did but then it just felt… weird. So if I’m not dating I’m definitely not thinking about…’

“Sex.” I finished for her and she turned bright red, but I wasn’t about to go easy on this topic. “If you can’t say the word then you definitely aren’t ready for that.”

‘I know…” The pink in her cheeks abated. ‘And I’m not… not at all. I mean… I don’t think I even want to kiss a boy yet, and Mom said I can talk to her about birth control and stuff whenever I need to.’

I smiled to myself. I loved that woman. “I know I might not be your best option… but one phone call and I’ll… do my very best to find you a more qualified person to talk to.” I chuckled. But she knew I would drop just about anything for her.

I heard #Quil’s car coming down the street. “He’s back. Give him a hug… okay?”

She nodded and I headed to the bathroom to shower and give them a few minutes.

[blazingtheway]

Make a Wish - Embry Solo

‘Sweetheart… you really should go and do something fun today.’ #Mom told me. She had been hooked up to the machine for about 20 minutes now.

“I am exactly here I want to be Mom… I can’t make it to all your treatments but today I could. I know #Sue offered… But! Her talents are put too much better use baking my birthday cake.” I grinned and Mom slapped my arm.

‘Were you reading my text messages?’ She mock-glared.

“What do you expect when you constantly hand me your phone to download new music?” I chuckled, Plus, I knew there would be much more cake at Emily’s later.

‘I can’t believe you are choosing to spend your birthday in the hospital.’ #Hannah… the youngest on Mom’s treatment cycle said.

“There's nowhere I would rather be than with this woman… it is her Mom-aversary after all.” I grinned and kissed Mom’s temple. She giggled like a twenty-something.

#Hannah had her chin propped on her hand laying on the side of her recliner. ‘You know… you might just be the perfect man.’ She sighed dreamily. ‘It’s a pity you’re so grotesque.’ She laughed and I reached across the space between her seat and Moms and mushed her face.

“Like you can talk!” I teased right back.

‘You know a man who loves his Mom so openly is hard to find… Might even be worth it to put up with his clearly inferior appearance.’ #Jacob had walked in and was leaning against the door. I gave him a glare that said he would pay for that one later.

‘Damn! Embry… Who's the beefcake?’ Hannah eyed him.

“You can call him Mr. Engaged-To-Be-Married… and put your tongue back in. You’re drooling.” I hadn’t even heard or scented him coming up the hall. I wasn’t expecting anyone else here today.

‘This must be the famous Hannah?’ Jake asked… stepping inside. ‘Our ‘Bry talks about you constantly.’

#Hannah straightened up and flipped her hair. ‘He’s kind of obsessed with me.’ She boasted, teasing.

Then I heard the whispering in the hall as #Quil came in with Nurse Sophie. And a cake with lit candles. “You brought a cake to a dialysis ward?” I eyed them both.

‘It’s carrot cake… that’s a vegetable!’ #Quil smirked and crossed the room. ‘It's basically health food! And there's enough for everyone.’ Even #Sophie rolled her eyes at that.

‘Hurry up and make a wish before my supervisor comes in will you?’ She glanced over her shoulder.

I looked around the ward at all the happy faces… Everyone here was sick or supporting someone they loved through a life-saving treatment and all of them smiled; even Hannah’s stoic mom. And my brother’s showed up… breaking the one visitor per bed rule (It was never really enforced).

Mom was grinning now and then it hit me… they came so that mom wouldn’t feel bad for my being here with her on my birthday. They knew her so well, that she would feel bad for keeping me from my friends today, even though I had been the one to insist I took her to this appointment.

So, I took Mom’s hand, closed my eyes and made a wish.

[blazingtheway]

Your Top-shelf is Going to be Mine. – Storyline 16 - Together - Part 2

•- Leah Clearwater -•

 “By the spirits!”

The words a gasp as i turned into him and then out again. My hair falling Free down my shoulders and over my back as he moved us both with the song.

“Embry!” Trying to tell him off for disrespecting me, but I ended up laughing moving in step with him.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned when she decided to dance with me instead of rolling her eyes and getting back to the task at hand. "Spirits" I muttered and leaned in to brush the tip of my nose against her jaw as we danced. "That sound!" I almost groaned.

It was truly one of the most beautiful sounds in my life. "Look at you living, in the moment like a pro." I teased.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Biting the inside of my cheeks, my eyes closed feeling the small traces of blood rushing at the touch.

My feet moved in time with his with the music.  “Hmm… also not trying to lead… the spirits must be impressed with me, right?”

•- Embry Call -•

My nose reached her ear and I whispered. “I like it when you lead. You can take the lead anytime… I won't tell.” I chuckled and dropped a kiss just below her ear.

“But it is good to balance the two.” I spun her away and brought her back again me. My chest flushed against  back and my arm wrapped around her so completely that all we could do now was sway a little off the beat of the song.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My hair flew around me, leaning against his back as it fell softly over my shoulders and down my back. “It’s about finding that perfect balance” I agreed. Listing to how our heartbeat sounded with music.

Swaying with him my eyes moved to the hob. “We need to get back to work.”

•- Embry Call -•

I breathed in and smell of her hair. My world and I both ruffled at the sensation it gave.  “The Spirit had a plan when they led down the same path” I planted a kiss on her shoulder and nodded.

“We really should. Plenty of time for dancing after food.” I smiled and stepped back. “What can I do to help?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Drinks? I’ll check the food.” It was fine, I could tell for the aroma in the kitchen. Everything was cooking to perfection.

Once he stepped back, I stepped forward watching his reflection in the mirror as I worked.

•- Embry Call -•

I nodded and went the fridge lifting out two more beers, downing the last if the one I left on the counters before tossing it into the recycling. A jug of water already sat in the table.

I uncapped the bottle and set them on either side in the table. “Damn that all smell good!” I almost groaned as my stomach rumbled impatiently.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“It should, I made it.” Brushing off the non-existent lint on my shoulders. Winking at him as I plated the food. Watching him as he walked pass behind me.

Finishing off the drink he’d giving me before, I carried the food to the tables and took my seat. “This is becoming a habit now.” Sitting back, I pulled my hair up into a messy bun.

•- Embry Call -•

“Boasting is a good look on you!” I Grinned. She was always confident, but never really bragged… not seriously anyway. And even now that wasn’t what she was doing.

I paused. My hand was halfway to my fork, watching as each inch of that very kissable neck was exposed. “If you mean you teasing me across the kitchen table until I want to let the food, go cold and do very bad things to you?” I smirked, finally lifting my fork. “Yes…. Yes, it is becoming a habit.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow in a perfect arch I shook my head.

“Our ancestors would be mortified to learn you’re willing to pass over food for a woman. What is the world coming to?”

With the fork in hand, I went in for the veggie cooked to perfection. The first bite made the world  come to life with the flavour burst and crunch as I chewed.

“Eat up, the deliciously bad things come after.” Waggling my eyebrows at him with a smirk.

•- Embry Call -•

"The ancestors will more than understand when it comes to this particular woman." I smiled and speared a forkful of veg and sliced into the chicken. 

I took and bite and her next words had me stopping with my mouthful... Damn, this is good! "Is that a promise or a threat?" I raised a brow and lifted the beer to my lips. "Because I'm down for either..." I tilted my head. "Or both."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my eyes to the heavens, I continued to chew on my mouthful. Leaving him with the prosthetic of what could be, was too good to miss.

Once my mouth was empty, I took a long pull from my beer before speaking. “Think of it as you wish. Only time and your choices will definitely determine which it is.”

Pointedly taking another mouthful of food.

•- Embry Call -•

“Now I’m torn…” I pointed my fork at the plate. “It would be a shame to rush such a delicious meal… but… now I  really wanna see what kind of follow-through you have planned.” I grinned.

Leah Clearwater always had a plan.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Chewing as I consider what he said. “Hmm… never took you for one of those who rushed anything.”

Taking a pull from the bottle before I set it down to pick up my fork again. “Learning new things tonight, Call.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her utterly unashamed at how cheesy i was about to be.  “Some people are worth rushing a meal for… even if they’re probably about to kick arse.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow, my lips curled up into the perfect smirk. “So… so… so…. Cheesy Embry Call. I’d expected something better from some who had an award for word play.”

Kicking his foot playfully under the table. “I’m only rushing my dinner because of the cheese cake in  the refrigerator.” The look on my face daring him to question my statement. Even if my eyes lingered on his lips a minute too long.

•- Embry Call -•

"You know I always speak my mind, even if it's cheesy." I smiled and took another bite... hell. This was so good. My eyes lit up... "Now you're talking my language." After another bite, I smiled. I noticed her gaze locked on my lips. "Got any ice cream?"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I know where I stand with you. Always have. ”Good or bad, this one always gave it how it was. Even if it earned him a slap upside his head. Stabbing my fork into the pasta I raised my eyebrow. “It’s as though you don’t know me. Yeah, I do.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled… she did know… we both we both knew. I groaned at another forkful of the food… damn she could cook!

“I know… rookie move.” I held my hands up in surrender, fork, and all. “I just had a sudden craving.” I smirked now… “remember the last tune we ate ice-cream... In  bed.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Mid chew my mouth stopped with my gaze growing a little darker. Heat crawled its way up my neck and I cleared my throat. Setting my fork down I lifted my drink to my lips to dampen the dry sensation and then nodded my head once.

“Have you known me to forget anything.” Sprits be my guide. I could recall every single second of that last time.

•- Embry Call -•

That memory got her blood rushing, I could tell with the tinge of pink climbing up her elegant neck. I chuckled... but it was a low sound... because the memory was having the same effect on me.

"I still can't believe that you didn't dunk me for kissing you out in the open like that.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Cutting into my meat my gaze back on him. “Oh, trust me I wanted to. But she’s been fighting your corner from the beginning.”

She stirred at the mention of her, I felt the sly smile and the same pride she felt for her choice to bank of him.

‘I told you; we could trust him.’ rolling my eyes I shook my head slightly.

“If it were on me, you would have gone under.” Hundred percent truth.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled around another bite. “Oh, I know.” I teased. “But she had my back.” I winked across the table. “She likes me.” I teased in an almost-sing-sing tone. “And I made sure we were completely alone first.”

My eye stayed on hers,  looking down only to make sure I wasn’t  making a mess with my food. “And you liked it… the wildness…”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Has..” both my warrior and I say at the exact same time. “She has your back.” Correcting the past tense in his statement.

Raising my eyebrow while watching the show he put on. Shaking my head once again, but I was smiling. “Clearly she saw something in you before I slowed down enough to see it.”

This made her send me a scoff. ‘Of course, I did, I’m always the one to see things like this first.’ Now see got an eye roll too.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it.” Heat flashed up the side of my next at the memory. “And I know you checked first.”

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled. “I know… She has great taste. Not that she needs me to tell her that.”

I smiled at her… my heart giving another few out of rhythm thumps at the memory… the freezing water, the heat of her body, that kiss while the thrill of the fall still coursed through us. “We should do it again sometime…” I smirked. “Maybe off the Rez… just in case.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Look who is learning about restraint?” Sitting back in the chair, setting the fork down to replace it with my drink.

I watched him carefully, my eyes in his face, but my ears… they were listening to his heart casing my lips to curl up into a smirk.

“Do you need anything  more?” Asking as I nod to the hob to the side. “There is more if you want anything.” It always made sense to cook enough food, hunger was never far for a spirit warrior.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed… the fact that was calling that restraint. “Actually… I would call it more… Planning ahead so I don’t need to use restraint.” Then I immediately added. “That did not sound kinky in my head.”

I thought about it for a second. “And fill up before the ice cream?” I  laughed; I didn’t think it was possible for a Warrior to feel full…. Well that’s not entirely true. #Paul and I tested it one time. It was not pretty.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Fork frozen mid-way to my mouth with my eyebrow curled up into a perfect arch. By the Spirits why did that made me squeeze my thighs together?

Shaking my head slowly my lips parted to say something and then I just ate my food. There were no safe words to be used about now.

“Hmm…” the only sound I dared to let out, while this man across the table from me, tested my control. (Or at least that’s how it felt.)

•- Embry Call -•

I froze a second after she did… My wolf and I were entwined so deeply that it was impossible for me not tuned into the scents all around me… especially when I was with Leah. She smelled amazing, and right now…

“Hmm…”I raised a  brow. “Maybe I should intend to be  kinky?” I smiled… the shift in her scent. “Maybe we should change those dessert plans?” Her scent had my mouth watering… and not for ice cream.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The tip of my tongue licked my bottom lip. He wasn’t the only one in the room whose could pick up on things. The body language, scents, the way his warrior wasn’t far too.

“Hmm…” biting on the inside of my cheek. “Why change the plans? Isn’t it better to adapt them?” the idea of his mind going to different directions… Spirits… this man was sent to test me.

•- Embry Call -•

My smile spread slow and wide across my features. She really was just full of excellent ideas…

“So… ice cream in bed again?” I teased. “You know that could get messy… we probably need to shower right after.” I waggled my brows. But then… just to throw her.. and turn her on all at once I picked up her empty plate and smiled.

“We should cleaned up first.” I gave her a knowing smile and headed to the sink.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Sitting up straight, crossing my legs under the table my head following him as he walked to the sink with the dishes in hand.

“You know how to turn a woman on.�� He knew I meant the cleaning up comment. (Of course, the thought of eating ice cream in bed and showering too.) SPIRTS. “Talk about breaking all the rules”.

Shaking my head when the throbbing between my legs had been eased, I stood up clearing away the rest of the table before walking over to him bare foot to help dry.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled. "Oh, if you think this is sexy... you should see me mop... It's almost like a floor show." I bit my lip as I ran the tap and scrubbed the plates.

"Spirits." I muttered, that scent... it made me a different kind of hungry. "Or... we can just skip the rest and put these counters to good use right now." My blood heated the scent in the air... Fuck! She smelled so good.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Clocking the lip bit in his side profile I couldn’t help myself. I stepped up to him turning him face towards me and place a soft kiss on his lips. My tongue darting out to free that bite of his, only to replace it with mine.

“I want to bite your lips every time you do that.” I kissed him again before pulling away and picking up a plate.

“We’ve come a long way to leave a job half done.” But my eyes darted over to the counter where he had shown me other ways to enjoy my kitchen.

•- Embry Call -•

I groaned at the flick of her tongue against my lips, I had to restrain myself from squeezing the glass in my hand so tightly it would shatter.

“Every single time I bite you, you can assume it’s an invitation for you to do it instead.” My voice was a whisper, then it deepened. That kid was far too short. “It’s always better when you do it.”

I could resist, three minutes, that all it would take to finish these dishes… then hoist her onto those counters she was eyeing and take as long as wanted just kissing her. Three minutes. I washed faster.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Softly laughing my shoulders with the sound of it. I could see the determination in his posture. He wanted those dishes washed, yesterday!

“If you break my dishes, Embry Call. There will be hell to pay.” I wasn’t attached to them, but we needed to be able to control some  parts of us, right?

‘Wasn’t the point of the bubble, so you didn’t need to?’ She stirred turning her back on us. She never stayed up to watch because she trusted him. (Unless he woke her up. And then there was no stopping her.)

I shook my head drying and packing as I went.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled. "Hey, I have better self-control than that." I protested, just barely... but that was enough. I held up the perfectly intact glass to prove it.

I set the last clean dish on the rack and dried my hands as she finished up and packed it away. Then I was right there when she turned back from the cupboard. A hand on the counters on either side of her. I dropped my voice low...

"Now what?"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I heard his feet in the cold kitchen floor. Smiling as I set the last of the dishes away and turned to face him with the tea towel in my hand. The half-moon space he created around me with his arms had my eyebrow raised in a perfect arch.

“Now what?” Licking my bottom lip “Weren’t you talking about dessert?” Tilting my head to the side, letting my hair fall free over my shoulder.

•- Embry Call -•

My stomach rioted; my eyes fixated on the way she licked her lips. Was jealousy right word for thinking that should be me tongue tracing that perfectly plump lip?

“Dessert…” I let every ounce of desire flood my tone and I hoisted up onto the counter with a firm grip on her  hips. Fuck! Was there any part of this woman that wasn’t sexy as hell.

“Let’s start with a taste.” I flicked my tongue right where hers had just been. My fingers dragging down the outside of her impressive thighs. Then I kissed her, diving in, deep and passionate.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

By the Spirits! My stomach turned in a delicious wave of desire pushing it when his strong hands took a hold and with one swiping motion I was off my feet and my arse settled on top of the counter.

A gasp escaped my lips with my hands moving to rest on his shouldered, taking  him in. Before I could say anything, our lips were connected, his tongue and mine entwined, my own hands in his hair.

•- Embry Call -•

I kissed her, pulling her right the edge of the counter where my body was keeping her from slipping off. My hands moved back up her thighs, her waist…. Around her back and up until my hand could tangle in her hair making groan.

The other fisted in the back of her shirt. My caught her hitting lip and tugged until it slipped free. I locked eyes with her. “I’d there anything you don’t do well?” I teased. “Best dessert ever.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I wouldn’t fall, 1 - because he wouldn’t let me. And B - because I wouldn’t let me. He tasted of dinner, and beer, of the Earth of our lands, and of… Embry. A scent and taste I hadn’t had before, and I knew there wouldn’t be one like it again.

My back arch into his direction, chest to chest, when the bust of our scents combined together. A moan pulled free by him sent a blot of electricity straight to my clenched muscles. “If you can’t do it well. Then why try?” Flicking the tip of my tongue over his lips. The throbbing sensation building.

•- Embry Call -•

Her chest pressed into mine and I could feel with all of her.  I moaned her name, but it was swallowed up by the deep kiss. I pressed my hips against her and smirked letting her feel the full effect she had on me. "Well... You get an A plus, Trouble."

Her scent shifted and  new kind of hunger filled me.  "Damn, you smell too fucking good."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“As long as you’re not scoring me on a curve, Dimples.” The end of my sentence went up towards the end at feeling his reaction to our closeness.

“Spirits…” peppering his lips with kisses between my words. “You feel so good.” My arse had been placed at the edge of the  counter by him, and I’d locked my ankles around his waist. I used the two to keep my balance as I rocked to cause some friction between us.

•- Embry Call -•

I moaned softly, her body heat seeping into me. Her warmth was unlike any other I had ever experienced. Her kisses made me smile, made my heart skip with each one. “Can’t grade on curve when there ones only one student.” I breathed. “Only you.”

My hand gripped her hip… then slipped my hand beneath her shirt to feel the hard muscles of her waist and back. “Spirits, Leah…” I wasn’t he only the felt good.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Shivers moved smoothly over my skin being touched by his hands. The proof of his determination to music could be felt with the rough calluses of those hands. His heart and moans sang to me, making me reply in the same way too.

“Only you…” Sprits! This mad man and I were  walking this path in our own way for sure. Because I wasn’t even thinking of running now.

“Embry…” shivering at his touch, tilting my head I deepen the kiss again. Needing more now.

•- Embry Call -•

Every muscle in my body went tight… at first… those first two words, they woke the beast inside and my arms tightened around her, pushing her shirt up her back as I did, closing any possible space between our bodies.

Then those same muscles turned molten when she said my  name like that. Her kiss deepened and I whispered her name back to her, but it was lost in the breaths and whimpers and soft sounds of our kiss. “What have you done to me?” I managed to whisper before I pressed my tongue past her lips again. Joy and gratitude flooded my tone.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

What had I done? Was there any chance we could answer that question to its fullest? No, I didn’t think so.

And it hadn’t been me… it was us… we had done this together. He and I walked this path that brought us here tonight… and we weren’t done.

I didn’t reply with words. I parted my lips to let him in. I shifted and edged into him, feeling his heart pounding next to mine. And I gave him his answer with the way this all felt between us right now.

•- Embry Call -•

The question had been more than rhetorical. It was unanswerable… a statement really… a prayer and please to the spirits the showed us this road and let us follow it. A thank you, to them… not her. Because this… wasn't something we tanked each other for.

We gave and accepted equal measure. Her answer came in closeness, in matched passion and synced heartbeats. She had no answer, she didn't need one or want one… just like me. The kiss slowed and deepened all at once as we clung to one another.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

His heart took over, it’s all I wanted to listen to in this moment. Listening to the message it shared kept me in place in the kitchen counter.

The coolness of the counter top seeping in from below, I moved my hands to cup his face. The days stubble prickly to my fingers. I smiled as I kissed him. Feeling that connection, we shared. Slowly pulling back, I opened my eyes to take him in.

Embry Call, his eyes, his nose, his lips… “Well, this is a new kind of a dessert menu.” Teasing with that smile still on my features.

•- Embry Call -•

A low hum escaped from me, and I pressed my cheek into her palm. Savouring the touch, when I opened my eyes, I found hers flitting from feature to feature on my face.

My hands slide down her back to her waist, still against her bare, heated skin under her shirt. "Still in the  mood for ice cream?" I asked, licking the lingering taste of her from my lips. "Or should continue to fulfil all your cravings."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Still smiling, I snapped my teeth at him. There were so many ways to take this conversation, but for now…. With him and I, this heated embrace. We really needed something to cool off a little.

“The deal was to have ice cream.” Raising my eyebrow at him as I spoke. “We cannot, not have some.” The tips of his fingers lingering under my shirt, add a slight gasp to my words now.

•- Embry Call -•

My stomach twisted in that incredible way, and I bit my lip with a groan. That snap was sexy as all hell. I kissed her, flicking my tongue again her lips Before I whisper. “Who am I to deny you anything, Trouble?”

I slipped my hands from her hips. The heat of her bare skin was  instantly missed.

“Don’t move.” I smirked and stepped away, heading to the freezer, I fished out the first tub I saw and set it on the counter. I gaze locking hers in again as I slipped between her knees. I opened the drawer next to her and pulled out a spoon, without once  looking away from her. Then I scooped out a spoonful and held it out before her with a grin.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Heat rushed up the side of my neck, watching him moving though my kitchen without a question or a doubt. He looked comfortable, like he belonged and wanted to all at the same time.

Licking my bottom lip, smiling at how he strutted over to my freezer, found the tub of frozen ice cream, returned without a misstep, and found a spoon without breaking eye contact.

“That is so sexy!” Raising a perfectly curved eyebrow at him.

Parting my lips for the spoon, I leant towards him closing them around the offering, and letting out the most delicious moan. curling my long legs back around his waist.

“I wasn’t expecting the service.” Letting the ice cream melt on my lips before kissing him so that he could taste it too.

•- Embry Call -•

My lips parted… a light exhale escaping as her kiss plumped lips closed around the spoonful. My skin suddenly felt too tight. And when she caught me around the waist.

“Oh no…” My voice is unexpectedly soft. “That is sexy.” I returned her kiss, tasting her, tasting the ice-cream on her lips. I trace her lip with tongue. “Ice cream never tasted so good before” I smiled.

I scooped out more ice cream and this time I ate it myself. Letting it melt on my tongue.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“It’s a one-of-a-kind flavour…” smirking as I licked my lips. He’d left them tingly again. My hands moved to the side and around his back, drawing gently as my gaze remained on him and his actions. He filled another spoonful, my lips parted and…. “Hey!” Okay so I thought  it was coming to me.

Shaking my head. “Fine… I guess you are allowed to have some too.” Kicking his arse playfully with the heel of my foot around him. “The next spoon is mine.” Snapping my teeth at him.

•- Embry Call -•

I managed a breathy chuckle as my heart lurched watching her lip part expectantly. Fuck!! The places my mind went just thinking about her lips.

“I thought it as only children that were meant to have issues with sharing.” I kissed her, letting her have a taste too. Then I extended another spoonful to her. “You have no idea the depths of my filthy thoughts right now.” I flashed a teasing grin.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

By the Spirits! His cool and then hot lips tasted so good. Sweet and salty, cool and warm. He wasn’t wrong in his assessment. “I don’t share….” Licking my lips pointedly as I watch him refill the spoon.

My fingers moving over his soft skin of their own accord, my lips  parted ready for the next serving, but then a bolt of lightning struck through from my ears to my core.

“Oh…” eyebrow raised in a perfect curve. “Care to share or should I just let my mind wander with the fact you gave me?” This time my lips closed around the spoon slowly.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled. “Of course not.” I teased… and yet here she was legs wrapped me, locking me into, sharing not only her home but her personal space, her heat… her breath. She’d cooked for me, even went so far as the near sacred act of sharing ice cream?

I watched her with parted  lips and bated breathed. Glued to every moment like I was witnessing a miracle. My jeans becoming tighter.

“Like all the things I could do to that exquisite, sarcastic mouth.” I bite my lip as I slid the spoon from between those sinfully perfect lips. I dropped my voice to a  whisper. “All the things you could do to me with that mouth.” A shudder of desire ran through me at my own words.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Of course, my gaze dropped to his bitten lips. The need to feel my teeth on them instead of his. His words making me react by taking a slow and steady breath to fill my lungs, counteracting the heat growing in the pit of my stomach.

I scented the change between us as heat  curled its way up the side of my neck, setting every nerve on edge. Images of the last time we were together flashing through my mind. At the feel of him, the scent of him, and the taste…

“Spirits…” I didn’t even know if said it. Tilting my head from side to side trying to clear my head. But …. It wasn’t possible… not with him filling it.

•- Embry Call -•

My gaze locked on her lips and my mind continued playing through memories.... and imagining what new ones we could make together.

My eyes dropped to her throat when she tilted her head. I couldn't stop myself from leaning in and pressing a kiss to her pulse. Her skin was flushed and slightly warmer than her normal temperature.

"Calling on the Spirits now... you really want to share this ice cream tonight." I teased her. I filled this spoon again and held it up to her. My wicked imagination was running riot. "You know... this is definitely  another first."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“You want me to stop calling on them? You know they’ll find ways to make themselves know if they think I’m blocking them out and not listening. And now—“

His lips on my neck cut the sentence short, sending sensations of pleasure roiling over my skin. “Hmm…” words were never my strong suit anyway.

This time I flicked the ice cream between my lips with the tip of my tongue. But I didn’t eat it. Leaning forward I kissed his neck, dragging a line of melted ice cream from below his ear to the curve of his neck.

“Sharing? Are you sure I am?” Whispering onto his warm skin, I kissed and licked the line I made.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled and shook my head. "Not stop..." I smiled. "Never stop.... just... wait until the ice cream is all gone." I teased. My head tilted instantly to the side, and quick blast of cold before her mouth and mine warmed, the ice cream melting, pulled a deep groan from deep down in my stomach.

"Fuck, Trouble!" I bit my lip hard, dropping the spoon into the tub to grip her waist. "If this is your idea of sharing, I strongly approve."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I couldn’t help myself. Biting his shoulder when he held me. Chuckling a little at his comment of course too. “What do you mean? Wasn’t this your understanding of sharing ice cream too?”

My hands moved over his shoulders letting my nails trace his soft skin as I sat up on the counter top. Locking my ankles around his waist before kissing the spot I bit him. “I’m open to other sharing options, if you have any?” Whispering into the kisses.

•- Embry Call -•

My attempt to answer her wasn't much more a breath and moan. My hand tightened on her waist. I felt her lips over the light bit she gave me... Fingernails against skin... Fuck! Wait... what were we talking about?

Her hold on me tightened... "Sharing?" I whispered and  breathed in her scent... her scent and.... ice cream. We were talking about sharing ice cream.

"Oh, I have so, so many ideas" I whispered arching into every single kiss. I pulled back a little and dipped my finger into the ice cream. "Each one messier than the next," I swiped my finger over the tip of her nose and then quickly licked away the ice cream before the heat of her skin could melt it away.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

He was so lost; I could feel it coming from him. His breathing, the sound of the heart beat I thought of as music now, and of course his inability to reply straight away. Embry Call always had an answer for everything! “Hey! Kinky. Nose licking!” Wiggling my nose as the cool  touch of our dessert tickled. But I didn’t stop him.

Licking my lips, the taste of him still lingered there while I sat still watching him, and taking him in. “Keeping all those thoughts as a surprise, are you?” Finally asking when he didn’t say. “I’m fine with it..”

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled… “You aren’t the only one who can get kinky, Trouble.” I teased her, waggling my brows.

“I always have a surprise or two up my sleeve, you know that.” I grinned offering her another spoonful of ice cream. “But I suppose I can give you one hint…” I dipped my head  and ran tongue up the graceful column of her neck.

“It starts with licking you everywhere… not just your nose.” My voice dropped. “I will lick every single inch of you. And that just to start.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Head falling back once I too the spoonful, letting him kiss my neck with the ice cream melting in my mouth. I was sure he could feel the heat rising up my skin, but I didn’t think too much about how treacherous my body became around him.

“Hmm…” opening my eyes looking up  at the ceiling of my kitchen. My hands graced its way down his arm until the hand with the spoon was felt.

Removing the spoon, I brought his finger still sticky with the ice cream he’d placed on my nose. I bought the finger up to my mouth. Kissing the fingertip, then licking  it with my tongue curling around it before u sucked hard pushing my lips around the length.

Slowly pulling back sucking harder with my tongue curling around the tip before I let it free with a tasting bite. “Licking is…. A good place to start…” I whispered back.

•- Embry Call -•

Spirits! I was addicted to the way her body reacted to me. I kissed the hollow place below her jaw and started to work my way back to her ear. When she slipped the spoon from my hand my full attention returned to her face... watching all those intentions pool in her eyes.

The kiss had me holding my breath. Her tongue had me hardening even more and pressing against her, so she knew it too. I bit my lip and groaned. the pressure of her mouth and the way her tongue swirled. I finally took a breath the only thing racing faster than my heart was my  mind.

"The best place to start!" I whispered, breathlessly.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Biting... high on the list too.” His breathless voice excited me.

I bite down in the tip of his finger before little it goes. Placing both my hands down flat on either side of myself on the counter top. Bracing myself with the jolts of electricity riding me like a wave. All of this caused by his reactions to what is been doing.

Slipping my arse to the edge of the counter again. Circling my hips to meet his thickness. Wondering and imagining all the things I’ve cream tasted good on top of.

Taking the spoon from where I’d place it, this time I held it out filled for him to enjoy the flavour of it too.

•- Embry Call -•

I made a low hum of approval. "Biting..." I repeated because I had apparently lost the ability to form an original thought.

Then she shifted the edge of the counter and pressed against me. I bit my lip, my eyes rolled back, and my hand tightened on her hip. Her body met mine  at the perfect angle.

"Being six-four has a lot of perks." I grinned at her. I leaned in and ran my tongue along the underside of the spoon before I ate the spoonful of ice cream.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm…” this time I watched him consume the ice cream and it was hot and sexy, and…. Such a turn on! But why? I didn’t know the answer. It just was.

“Tall has its perks.” Agreeing. Because the way and the places our bodies met, it only happened because of the height  of him, the height of my cabinets and countertops. And the placement of me.

•- Embry Call -•

My eyes never left her face, I took in each and every reaction, sight sound and scent. I marked every detail. I leaned in and kissed her, while the taste of the ice-cream still lingered. I let my gaze drop to where our bodies met each other and the edge of the counter... I  her a wide smile.

"Oh, the things we do on these counters." I slipped the spoon from her fingers and scooped up more ice cream, holding it out to her.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Don’t give my counter tops a bad name.” Teasing back, leaning in my lips close around the cold delightful treat.

“It’s only witnessed kissing…” Winking back as I mirror his gaze. Taking him in, not missing a beat. Not removing my eyes off his face.

Whispering this time. “The couch has seen and heard a lot more.” The number of nights we spent on it bearing witness to the fact.

•- Embry Call -•

"For now." I flashed her a wicked grin. "These counters are going to see a whole more than kissing and my futile attempts at helping you cook."

My stomach leapt again watching her lips close around the spoon again. "Let's not forget the bed. The fact that thing is still standing is a miracle." I chuckled.

Another low-down twitch had me biting back a groan as I wondered if it would survive when we crossed that final line.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Well…”

My finger dipped into the tub, the cool soft texture making it easier to coat my finger. I had thought of covering his next line, down his Adam’s apple , towards his chest.

“You didn’t burn the toast the last time you offered to make breakfast.” Bringing my finger  to his lips. But then I dropped my gaze, seeing the bobbing of his Adam’s apple, and decided to bring my finger to my lips. Letting the tip of my tongue run over the length of one side. And then the other.

“My poor bed… I really do need to reinforce the fame.” The sounds it made; it was begging for some TLC.

•- Embry Call -•

My smile grew as she lifted her finger. “It’s not burnt if you can scrape on the black bits and sa…” every thought eddied out my head. I swallowed hard watching the slow swipe of her tongue. Fuck! It was like she moved in slow motion and that look in her eyes… Like she’d devour me next. Spirits!!

Beds?? What… why…? I chuckled. My grasp of the conversation slowly returned, and I loosened my grip on her hips… which had apparently tightened as I stared at her. Only with her could let myself act on instinct. Only her could I touch without thought and fear of causing harm.

“That may have to be my job, because I don't think you'll ever get my scent out of that mattress.” Damn! Did it make a domineering arsehole to like the sound of that? That my scent was there even when I wasn't?

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Head tilting the side my eyes glazed into his, but my thoughts went to the strong touch I missed all of a sudden.

By the Spirits… I hadn’t been worried about my strength or his. With all my honesty it was such a turn on when he grabbed me, when he put his full weight down over me. When his fingers dug into my skin. Being held by someone who I trusted to cause me no harm, but at the same time knowing he wouldn’t back down and could face me toe to toe.

Shaking the thoughts away, I pressed my thighs together, but he was in the way. The roiling up of my thoughts had my scent send its own message.

“Spirits!” Sucking my finger clean, raising my eyebrow. Did him like thinking about this? His face lit up. “You like it…. Your scent… in my things?” Did it feel to him as it had for me when he gave me his shirt?

•- Embry Call -•

My breath hitched and my mouth went dry as she sucked her finger clean. “Wouldn't a certain fictional friend of yours call me and Alphahole if I admitted to that?”

Her scent filled my senses, and I knew… I just knew it was that show of strength that stirred her arousal. Never enough to hurt. That wasn't something either of us had an interest in… but enough the woman of her considerable physical prowess could feel it. Enough for her feel my grip on her, that it was more than a touch… but enough that if she were human, it would leave a bruise at  least, maybe worse. But because this was Leah… I could just be Embry. I let go of the worry of causing harm. She wasn't fragile of breakable.

“I like it…” I admitted. “As much as you like it when...” I tightened my grip on her hips pulling her against me again, right the edge of the counter. I bit my lip when that sweet spot ground the hardness meeting her there. “… when you can feel it… really fell it when I touch you. When I can pin you… pick you… when you feel that pressure on your chest when you are under me… or between me and the wall.”

I leaned into her ear, dropping my voice. “When you can pin my wrists over my head a squeeze as hard you want. When you use those teeth and nails and all of these sexy, powerful muscles when they grind against…” I pulled to lock my gaze on hers. “That's how much I like thinking of you scenting me every time you climb into that bed.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Oh…” a mischievous grin formed on my features. Because I’d read that book and made him do the same. And to my surprise what had been a joke turned into us having something more. “She would most definitely call you and Alphahole… and then she would swish her perfectly  formed curvaceous arse off to her room, and pleasure herself while thinking about it….”

My body slide forwards coming to a colliding stop against his muscular chest. My hands curled themselves around his neck, the flats of my palm on the back of his head playing with his hair. “Well….” My core came to life with a burst of energy tightening ever muscle in me. “That … took a turn…” as he would say to me so often.

The way his breath kissed the shell of my ear, the way his voice sounded. My breathing stopped and my heart pounded against  the cage of my ribs. The physical aspect was always such a turn on. But now. Here. Adding the face that he got it. He got me. He understood the assignment and by the spirits he was taking home the A++!

“I should want to kick your arse for admitting this… but instead… It makes me want to knock you flat on your back, pour what’s left in the tub all over, and lick you clean!” Drawing in close, adding a snap of my teeth right beside his earlobe.

•- Embry Call -•

“Oh really?” I grinned at the image in my mind. “Do Alphahole get to watch in the last scenario?” My balls tightened at the thought. Fuck! She claimed I turned the conversation around. I dragged my teeth against her earlobe and before I pulled back and she did the dame. I  groaned.

“Who am I to deny a beautiful woman?” I smirked. “Where do you want me? Table? Bed? Floor? All of the above?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“That…. All… depends on…”

My arms dropped from around him, placing them either side of me I leant back. At the same time unhooking my ankles and bringing my long legs around to the front. They were  between us when I pushed him back and slipped down.

“I don’t know….” Teasing him and picking up the now half eaten tub of dessert and spoon. “I feel like I should leave you to your imagination for a while…” my eyes moved down him; his reaction visibly evident.

Filling a spoon, I put it in my mouth while starting to walk away.

•- Embry Call -•

I watched her, trying to tell myself I was prepared if was about to kick my arse... but as to back my focus drew in on the tempting peaks pressing against her shirt.

As she pushed me back, I let my hands trail off of her thigh. Then she was eyeing me up just as hungrily.

I didn't take my eyes off her. "Are you sure that's a good idea..." I bit my lip. Fuck! Her arse was perfect. "My imagination is vivid... it could get..." I paused. " Messy. If I'm left to my own devices with it in your house."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Walking away from him was as easy as it once used to be. My warrior thought I was crazy; he missed his heat. Even when I reminded her, we had the same temperature. But it wasn’t the same, and by the spirits I knew it.

“Hmm…” sucking on the melting goodness in my mouth. “A good imagination is paid with vivid realities…. Or so I’m told.”

Placing the spoon into the tub, my free hand moved to the hem of my shirt, lifting it as i disappeared around the kitchen opening into the living room.

•- Embry Call -•

I had a brief moment of thinking that losing Leah's heat was the closest thing to cold I could ever feel. But that satisfied hum was I needed to heat my blood again.

I had to make an adjustment down south before following her to lean on the doorway, aware of the fact that adjusted or not my jeans did not hide her effect on me.

"Oh, trust me." I tapped my temple. "I have every second committed to memory, it's excellent fuel for my imagination... and that was doing pretty well even before I'd ever seen you naked."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Narrowing my eyes, he didn’t mean what I thought he meant. He couldn’t have. Because if I’d have found out. His life would have been forfeit.

My shirt was up and over my shoulder, and head, hair cascading freely down my back as I adjusted my hands to set it down (tidily) on the armchair. Not looking back towards where I felt his presence.

“Before you even saw me naked what were you imagining exactly?” Now I set the tub down on the coffee table, undoing the belt and the buttons of my jeans. Pulling them down with a swing of my hips from side to side

•- Embry Call -•

Did the earth just stop spinning? Fuck! She was all muscle. Even her back flexed and rippled with strength as she pulled her shirt up… Who knew someone’s back could be a turn on? Enter Leah Clearwater.

I bit my lip, that dark cascade of silk down her back and over her Shoulders… yeah, I needed a little breathing room. I had to pop open my belt.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” I smirked. what her started on her belt… my heart raced and drifted up her gorgeous body and settle on her mouth for moment before locked onto those deep, dark eyes.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

When I glanced back over my shoulder, there he was. Lost in thoughts I knew the spirits would shy away from. But it made the thunder in my heart want to explode if I hadn’t kept control of myself.

Bending over, I freed one ankle from the leg of my jeans, and then moved on to  the other, as I spoke. “As we aren’t in the business of lying to each other. I’m going to disagree with you.”

Flipping my hair back, as I  stood up straight again. This time I shook my jeans, folding them, and setting them on top of my shirt. Turning around to fact him  in nothing more than my underwear.

“So….”

Licking the sticky remnants of the ice cream from my bottom lip. I pointed a finger to him, with the motion to come closer.

•- Embry Call -•

I was lost for words as I watched her. But always with her, every word she said sunk all the way in. My heart raced with hers... watching her fold her jeans shouldn't be a turn-on. But fuck! it was! Opening my belt was not enough... not even close.

Then the flick of her... Was at least four feet away and still made me groan.

I stepped forward when she beckoned, without question. Taking in the vision before me from my toes, all the way up, sweeping my gaze river each feature of her face and settled on her eyes.

I rested my hands on her waist and smiled at her. "I actually didn't picture you like this until after we... took each other right up to that ledge we like to toy with," I smirked. "But I won't lie... I imagined you in my t-shirt that night after we went climbing A LOT." I stressed the last part.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Alphahole…” the word came with a smirk of course. “Happiness is scenting yourself on me?” I knew it was more.

The day flashed before my eyes, climbing with him like I hadn’t before. Reaching the top, working together, learning from watching him. Seeing him doing something  he enjoyed. But it was sitting at the end, looking down over the horizon, the valley, and the river.

My heart gave one on those telltale signs of where my mind has gone. And I smiled shaking my head.

My hands gathered my hair up, twisting if around before tying it up into messy bun. All as I watched him taking me in, slowing moving towards me. And then there he was. And my heart gave me away again at the smile he openly shared with me.

I bought a finger up to his features, gently tracing the curves of his hairline, his cheek, his jaw.

•- Embry Call -•

"Something like that." I grinned, inching a little closer. I didn't need to explain it was the trust... and sure a little Alphahole satisfaction. But most of all is the utter acceptance in the action. That she'd had time to rationalise the feelings she was having and was choosing to spend the night in my bed.

I bit my lips watching her do that thing with her hair, and then I ducked my head to press a kiss to her now-exposed neck. The out-of-time thump made mine respond in kind. my eyes jumped back to her with a smirk that said I heard that.

Then her touch softened that smirk into a smile only she had ever seen. "What on Earth are you doing to me, Trouble?" My wide smile made it clear I loved every second of it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“What you asked me to do, Dimples.” Voice soft and at ease. This felt real, and natural. Not forced on any level of the word. His warm lips on my skin had my skin ripping, and I knew he heard my heart speaking to him, just as I heard his.

“Do you want me to stop?”

Fingers trailing down slowly, taking in the well-defined position of each of his muscles. Even over the fabric of his shirt. Not rushing at all towards the goal to remove every inch of tension from those muscles I could feel moving beneath my fingertips.

When reaching the  hem of his shirt. My other hand moved so that I had a hold of both edges of the fabric. “So, now is the time to give consent, Embry Call. Do you trust me? Or… should I stop?” Moving my head back so that we were now eye to eye.

•- Embry Call -•

I was about to tell her that, no… no I most certainly did not want her to stop! But her hands started to move down my chest and my mind emptied out, mouth dry and teeth baring down on my lower lip. The intention in her eyes made my heart rachet up a gear.

Each muscle she  traced tightened and released.

Only when she stopped at the hem of my shirt did the faculties, I needed to speak return. “I trust you.” I had so much meaning behind it. Because I was a trusting guy. I didn't even lock my door for Spirit's sake. But this… Leah… it was different.

I trusted her with parts of myself I had only just discovered. My deepest regrets and shame. The little things I reserved just for me, like the piano, she held them all in her hands. And I felt no doubts or apprehension, no regrets.

In fact, I felt stronger for  it. I felt bolstered, held up by an extra pair of very strong hands. “Trusting you might just the best thing I've ever done.” I smiled.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Every bone in my body froze in its place, the beating of our hearts could be heard. But my mind took a moment to allow what he said to sink in. Trust…. It wasn’t only a question about what I had to answer for. But how I felt about allowing people in. It was a two-way street, a journey we both embraced.

Seeing his eyes, the way he bit his lips. I kissed him in answer. I wouldn’t take his trust lightly. “Trusting me is more importantly the most intelligent thing you’re done.” Teasing? Yes. But I had too.

Curling the fabric into my fingers, I began moving it up. Making sure the tips of my thumb travelled over his skin as I went.  “Hands up, Embry Call. You are seriously overdressed right now.”

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed a little. She teased, but I knew she understood how deep that trust went... and that understood hers too. She didn't take it lightly. "Yeah... I think we can both agree on that, too." I admitted with ease.

Never breaking from her stare, I lifted my arms... "Wow... Two agreements in a matter of minutes. We're on a roll, Trouble."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my eyes at him with a smile on my lips. “Don’t get cocky… it may never happen again.” Raising my eyebrow into a perfect arch as I spoke.

Even now it sometimes seems unreal at how easy it felt to talk to him, to tease, and play. My hands moved up over his torso slowly. Breaking eye contact with him to view the fine specimen of a man the spirits created.

The scent in the room changed, and I pushed my thighs together to ease the throbbing sensation between them. Really, what was going on with me? Just taking his shirt off did this?

•- Embry Call -•

My tongue pressed into my lower lip, even her eyes tools were a turn on… and that was so dangerous. But I was addicted. A few stray strands of hair feel across my forehead when she freed my shirt. Somewhere between short and too long but not quiet either.

My hands moved to waist slowly slipped down, closer to the source of that scent that made me want to drop to my knees and… I bit down on my lip hard before the urge could take over. Of, course now it was my scent shifting… the pulsing of the blood in veins heating and flowing faster.

“Like what you see, Trouble?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Yes. I. Do.” Unable to fold his shirt because of the way he held me now. I let the fabric fall on top of my clothes on the armchair beside us.

“As much as you are enjoying yours too.” I could read the room and the changed in it. Even if I hadn’t dropped my eyes, I knew what part of him would be there reaching out towards me.  My breathing hitched as the placement of his hands; I knew the through of him had a full pulse beginning between my legs.

Reaching up my fingertips traced his face. Pushing his hair off his forehead. “It’s letting long again.” I had said it to myself, but to him too. I like his hair, touching it, playing with it, because maybe I knew what it meant to be allowed to be this personal with a person now.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled I knew that she would want to fold that t-shirt, but I wasn't going to let go of her. "I would normally say that wasn't possible..." I leaned in and inhaled deeply. "But... I don't think I can this time."

Her finger brushed my against my cheeks and into my hair, and  as soon as my fingers against the hem of her panties at the same time... "Spirits." I felt it in my knees... again the urge to get close and worship her.

"Just wanted to give you something to hold onto." I teased and slipped my hands over her hips to her arse because there  too much temptation on the path they were following.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Are you admitting a weakness, Dimples?” Leaning in to place two soft kisses in each of them.

Teasing him and setting it into a challenge would be the normal routine for us, but my hands were tracing their way down his bare toes. Stopping to admire each chiselled muscle. “Spirits!” Calling them at the same time as he did when my fingers trailed the fine line of his adonis belt! That perfect V-shaped muscle,  running diagonally from his hip bones to his pelvic are.

“What were we talking about?” Feigning confusion because who the hell could think straight? It didn’t take much to find the clasp of his belt, undoing with a single tug. The sound of the metal breaking the silence

“Oh…right… The view we’re both enjoying.” His jeans were undone, my hands moved to feel his skin beneath the fabric as it began falling.

•- Embry Call -•

“If admitting the way, you smell right now is making me want to drop to my knees, put one of your legs over my shoulder and bury my face in between...” my mouth watered... “Is a weakness then… fuck yes!” No hesitation, no doubts. I was literally weak at the knees for her right now and wasn't terrifying it was thrilling.

I bit my lip when her fingers stroked lower, and she lost herself. I wasn't stupid I'd flipped through some of the books on her shelf and I had a few more muscles than most guys in them. I locked my gaze and hers and said, a little my skin heats beneath her touch.

“One hell of a view.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My warriors interest was peaking as she stirred wanting to know more. My breath caught at my impulse to move my hands lower, past the band of his boxers. And she wanted me to tell him to do what he wanted.

My heart felt like it was riding down to my stomach, and I lost my  voice as pure pleasure pluses making me close my thighs at the throbbing there. Pushing his jeans further to the ground, I guided him to step out of them. Picking them up to place them on top of all our clothes.

“You are really letting your mind run free.” It wasn’t the first time. “Who said I would let go taste this delicious delicacy without a few challenges?”

My eyes moved from his face over his bare, and perfect body, down to his toes. “Now… I promised to lay you down on the floor to lick ice cream off your skin.” Pointing to the floor

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled. “Good thing I'm not afraid of a challenge.” I felt the tiny shift, and even without looking away from her eyes I knew she was pressing those sex thighs together and fuck!! I wanted to be the cause of any friction she felt.

I bit my lip, feeling a low-down throbbing  at her words.

“Well, who am I to stand in the way of a promise.” I dipped my head and kissed her pulse point. Then I trailed painfully slow kisses down her neck. Her chest, nipping at her collarbone. Kiss g down the centre of her breasts, slowly easing to my knees. I would her what she wanted. But I would have fun along the ways.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

By the spirits! How had he managed to turn the tables on me? The world plan was to tease him, taste him, play with him! But here I stood with soft moan running free, my hands in his hair as he slowly turns my on like a lighter ignition.

“Embry….” My eyes widened as he went to his knees before me. This action took my mind away by shocking it. It wasn’t something I could say I wanted, but I didn’t know if he knew the meaning of it to me.

To go down on my knees… I’d told the world I would do that for any man. Even my Alpha knew, not that he would abuse his power and position like that. Her voice whispered ‘This isn’t the same thing. This is trust. It’s openness, and willingness to accept.’

•- Embry Call -•

I was already struggling with my urges to slide her panties down as my knees touched the floor... her breathing my name like that almost undid me. My teeth grasped the elastic and tugged a little and just before I pulled back I squeezed her arse and slid my hands to her knees, just a little press against the back of the drop her into my lap. I didn't reach up to keep her from toppling backwards, she could keep herself centred easily.

I shifted my legs out from under me, the motion causing delicious friction right where we both wanted it now that she was straddling my lap.

"I'm at your mercy, Trouble." I smiled at her, heart racing with anticipation. Sat on the floor now, just where she'd wanted me... almost. But just like catching herself... she could fix that too.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Let’s not pretend this isn’t exactly where you wanted to be.” He’d brought us both down and I didn’t fight him. My hands moved to cup his face with our bodies shifting to settle on the floor of my living room.

Bringing myself down to kiss his lips, slow, soft, and teasing  while tasting him all at once. Where our bodies joined, jolts of lightening zipped making my pulse quicken.

I moved the weight of myself into him now, holding the back of his head my tongue entwined with him as I took him down to lay flat with me hovering over him.

“Now. What were you saying about mercy?”  Teasing bites over his lips. Without looking, my hand reached out for the tub of soft semi melted ice cream.

•- Embry Call -•

I moaned into her kiss, she moved with me every moment. We had learned to read the silent language of each other's body.

My stomach rioted, my heart raced, my breath was still rapid. Our tongues met and danced, even as the corners of my mouth curled up when she cradled the back of my head. For someone who frequently hid her tenderness... she certainly didn't inside our bubble. "Mercy?" I asked, confused for a second until I could think clearly enough to remember what I said only a moment ago.

"Oh... about showing me none?" I teased biting my  bottom lip.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I couldn’t help but laugh into the night. Only one lamp lite the room, with shadows dancing over his face as I drew up to sit over him. The tub sitting on the floor beside him. I pulled my hair up into my signature bun all the while watching him. My long torso stretching out, and I Tutt my tongue.

“We’ll see how you feel about that.” Teasing right back.

My hands slipping down from my hair, slow and gentle I felt the heat of my skin rising, and I felt him tightening under me. Picking up only the spoon, I licked the back of it. Keeping my eyes locked onto his. The next dip of the spoon, I held it over his chest. Listening to him, enjoying the moments where his reactions come.

“Now try to stay still. I don’t want ice cream melting on my floor.” Trails of the sweet goodness dripped over his nipples one at a time.

•- Embry Call -•

I bit my lip hard; she was doing that thing with her hair again. Fuck!! it was sexy as hell. “Still feeling pretty good about it.” I said, as she licked the back of the spoon, making me twitch, thinking of all the things that tongue could do.

I chuckled… she asked me not to move like it was just that easy.

I melted ice wasn’t as cold… but still enough for a jolt of pleasure. “You know still isn't my stronger suit, right?” slide my hands over hips and along her thighs. My body already aching for what came next.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My placement straddling him, made it so I felt his twitch making me push down and rotate my hips for the friction.

“If it was easy on you… was the fun?”

His hands moved over my hot skin, sending bolts of excitement through me. The spoon dropped a line of ice cream Down the middle of his torso before I set it back inside the tub.

“Let’s see how far you can make it?” Shifting the way, I sat over him. Leaning down my tongue started to lick teasingly up the middle of his torso, letting small bite mark as I cleaned up the mess, I came over him.

•- Embry Call -•

I bit my lip hard to try (and fail) to stifle a moan at the way she wriggled her hips. "You really aren't going to make this easy, are you?"

I hardly finished the sentence before she lowered herself and... "Fuck!" I breathed and dug my fingers into her toned thighs. The trickle  of melted ice cream down the side of my ribs told me I wasn't staying as still as I thought I was.

Why was this so fucking how? Okay sure, she was running her tongue all over me... Clearly sexy... But no, the biggest turn-on was the fact she was licking ice-cream off of me. "Is there a prize if I make it all the way?" I panted between breaths. Like I needed on... I looked down watching her make her way up my torso... I was winning already.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“A prize?” Asking as I chased the free running trails down his ribs. Biting when I missed the drops falling on the ground next to him.

“You’re not staying putt, Dimples. So I don’t know if a prize should be offered.” Licking with the tip of my tongue in the circle my  left a reddish mark on his flesh.

Sitting back up I took another spoonful. “But I’m all for giving second chances. So, let’s see if you win this time.” Drops falling around his chest this time, concentrating at not letting anything fall or run down his sides.

When I set the spoon down, I could help but smile. Seeing him lying there, all that power in his body, and he was concentrating on being still. This time when I went down my tongue traced his nipples one at a time. Tasting the delicious sweet with a mixture of him too.

•- Embry Call -•

She and I both knew that was as still as I got… but the was without the sexiest woman I had ever met straddling my arousal and sweet, perfect heat… my hips moved on their own again.

Okay, maybe not on their own… but fuck!! Who wouldn't? I grow at the bite, fingers pressing into her thighs, leaving a mark of my own.

There was a look of concentration on her face that made me grin through the jaw-clenching sensations skittering from every place I felt that cool touch. “Over achiever much?” I teased, gasping the last word when her tongue circled my nipple.

I only realised I had arched my back when it touched the floor again. “Fuck!” I moaned through my bitten lip.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The sweet pinch of his fingers into my skin let me know how much this was worth the time. I should have started this earlier for sure!

He drew a moan free from me too, my scent filled the air around us telling him my secrets. That hungry heat was trying to break my concentration, But I wasn’t done.

“Tutt Tutt Embry Call. You just lost your prize.” My eyes moved to take him in. His chest came up to meet me before settling on the floor again.

“And I was willing to let you pick your prize too.”

More ice cream in the spoon, but this time I shifted down him, letting droplets made a path down to his navel. And over the small scar where his appendix once lived.

•- Embry Call -•

Fuck!! That sound... I felt it travel me, throbbing and pulsing where her body met mine. "I thought I wasn't getting one?" I panted out the words.

I groaned... a prize of my choosing... My mind couldn't fathom the answer while trailed the cold droplets to the scar low down on my stomach.

"My choice?" I breathed. sliding my hands firmly up her thighs to her hips. "That's brave." I teased.

We both knew it had nothing to do with bravery, it was all trust.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Shh…” setting the spoon to the side again. This time I took a hold of his hands. “These are distracting me from my fun.” The sharp sting from his hold was going to leave a mark, but I knew it would be gone before I could see them.

“Think about it… see how far your mind can travel.” Tilting my head to the side. I moved to hover over him. Moving myself down to sit over his thighs between my legs now.  My tongue working in long slow motion to lick him clean this time.

•- Embry Call -•

I bit my lip, twisting my hands, and lacing my fingers with hers. She moved lower… every muscle in my torso tightened in anticipation. But as soon as I thought to gather my self-control with the loss of friction… her tongue was on my skin.

“Spirits!” I sucked in a breath, trying to keep my upper body still. “Can't expect a man to think straight while you do that.”

I squeezed her hands. Fuck!! I wanted to touch her.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Squeezing his hand right back, my lips curled up into a mischievous smile. I didn’t reply to him right away way, because I found myself following the lines of his muscles now and not the ice cream.

There was the taste of Embry, with drops of the sweet treat. His heat, with the melting dessert.

“It wouldn’t be a challenge if it was easy, Dimples.” Biting his hip my eyes moved to glance up at him.

My mouth moved to follow the pool of cream along the groove of his boxer elastic. Biting the fabric with my teeth as the scent of him filled my senses.

•- Embry Call -•

Fuck! That sexy little smirk...  She was so hot it should be illegal. I watched her move down my body, every swirl and flick of her tongue sending electricity over my skin. I still struggled to keep still.

“You do like to challenge me.” I breathed. Never taking my eyes off her. “Spirits!” I bit my lip and pressed my hips against floor hard… anything the keep for arching right off the flow or.

“Fuck, Trouble.” Everything was tight throbbing, begging for friction. “Guess I'm not only one that likes what they see.” I teased her, panting. Longing  kiss those perfect lips… no wanting her to stop her slow, teasing trail either.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Think we were past my hiding the things he knew. The scent in the air, the way my body reacted to his, the ripped skin around my nipples hiding, but the fact that they were erect pushing the light fabric of my bra, was not.

Seeing him fighting the urge his body feed him shouldn’t turn me on so much. But here we were.

“I’m not denying it. At least not right now.” Making a point to flick my tongue over his skin and closing my eyes. The moan wasn’t planned. But the sound of it was intoxicating to me!

I squeezed his hands before freeing one. “Think I need some more ice cream.” Reaching for the spoon.

•- Embry Call -•

Her scent deepened and I wished I was the one with my lips pressed low against me abdomen. Muscles tightened and the seam along the front rubbed again a sensitive spot when she made that bloody delicious sound.

I glanced down her body when she lifted up to reach for the spoon giving me a perfect of the straining fabric covering her breasts.

My newly freed hand lifted to brush against her hair, careful not to loosen it from the artful twist shd fashioned it into. Although letting it fall free could mean if obligated to take her to the shower to the sticky mess from the dark locks.

A slightly evil smirk spread across my features.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Nothing good could be cooking in that mind of yours.” I saw that look. The one which came over him just before he did something I would want to kill him for.

Even if the last few times, it had ended with us entangled naked never making it to my bed. The spoon full again  I brought it down to his navel. Trailing a line from there down. Glancing up towards him when I felt his hand over my hair. It made the muscles in my stomach clench and then twitch.

“Embry!” His name came out in another soft moan, with the release of control I kept over myself.  This time let it drip freely bending down to catch them with the tip of my tongue.

•- Embry Call -•

There was just as hunger in her eyes. The way my body reacted to her gave her physical pleasure, not just the satisfaction of knowing she the cause of my pleasure. It was deeper than that for us.

“I supposed that depends on your definition of good.” I grinned, still shivering with bliss and sensation. I stopped my mind calling up the images of her soaking wet, skin gleaming, hair slicked my abs dripping water, tiny drops in those long lashes. Well, I tried to…

“So, fucking beautiful…” The words were out before the ice cream touched her skilful  tongue.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

His words stopped me in my tracks. I freed the hand he’d been holding, to sit up a little. Raising my eyebrow in a perfect arch smirking down at him, the evidence of his presence palpable.

“Is the same definition as you have. And you know exactly what I mean.” Or what he meant   siting up over his thighs, I held the dripping spoon over his midriff.

With my eyes taking in the man underneath me, I knew there was so much more to this thing with him. He wasn’t just any guy. He wasn’t meat. It was Embry. By the spirits! It was Embry Frank Call! My fingers curled into the hem of his boxers. Tugging them to show off the muscles hiding under the fabric. But I didn’t expose him. The dip of his skin now covered in the sweet wet cream.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned. Looking from her to me and the sticky mess. “I was thinking about who sad it be…” The cool ice cream rolling between the grooves of my muscles made me groan just thinking about her lapping it up with her talented mouth.

“If this beautiful hair got tangled up in this mess.”

A small gasp escaped; I knew how far she would go. I saw her desire and how it was for all of me, nothing was hidden in those amazing eyes. “I would have to take you to the shower and make sure every last strand was cleaned.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My ears were taking him in, listening, smirking and I couldn’t help but dig my nails into the sides of his thighs.

This time my lips did the trick, kissing and sucking up the sweet substance off of him. Small, soft, hard, then teasing kisses. Leave small “O” marks wherever lifted from.

Finally, when I was satisfied there wouldn’t be any mess my eyes could move to meet his.

“There is a bridge we have crossed.” My hair, the shower, the trust to know we had our control intact. And my hair… I hadn’t had another person do something so intimate.

•- Embry Call -•

I closed my eyes, dropping my head back to the floor again. Just writhing beneath her with each kiss and suck, knowing skin was showing proof of her trail. Nails and lips and tongues, everything felt so, so good.

“We have worlds and worlds of firsts still open to us, Trouble.”  I whispered.

Remembering that only once had we crossed into complete nakedness together… holding her until the sun came up with nothing beneath her and mine had been one of those firsts. “Because we wrote our own timeline.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

We had done it. Written our own rule books, set our own guidelines and standards, and most of all we ensured they worked for the two of us. It wasn’t written in stone, it was fluid like the oceans, the air, the stars, and the spirits who protected us. But most of all. It was ours.

“When did you find the ability to think.” Biting the skin over his hip bone. “I thought you didn’t have it to multi task.” A line of kisses went down the low edge of the fabric of his boxers, and my tongue traced a line all the way to the other side too.

•- Embry Call -•

A light chuckle was cut off by a moan that had me straining to keep my hips on the floor. “I’m evolving.” I managed to get out, both hands reaching for her. Teaching the curve of her shoulders and onto her back and the back of her neck.

The need to touch her was intense. I  still picturing her under a stream of warm water, my hands running over all her sensitive parts. “Fuck!” I throbbed… her kisses dragging me back again to this moment only. “Trying to kill me, Trouble.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

His reaction visible right away, pushing up against his boxers, and into the curve below my neck. Insensible I knew it. But a flash of the first time I saw him in his full glory came rushing in.

“Hmm…” telling myself to behave! “Evolution is teaching you and me so much. More than we could have imagined.”

Where his hands touched, my skin prickled with pleasure. Slowly I began my descent to his thighs. Bypassing the place I knew I couldn’t tease, even it was bulging out asking for a touch.

Stopping, I smiled. Grazing my chin over the length from the base all the way down towards the tip. Pushing my warriors limits to leave me and him to enjoy this time.

•- Embry Call -•

“Spirits!” the word was hardly recognizable. “I take it back… now you're trying to kill.” Sense memory flooded back, remembering what it was like to almost have her mouth on me.

My eyes connected with hers and hunger flashed in those deep, dark eyes. “There is.” the words were out without me ever deciding to say them. My other inner self rising up to greet his deepest desire. That beautiful silky white beast that prowled beneath her flawless, impossibly soft skin.

Then they retreated, no doubt that was Leah’s doing. I wanted her all to myself. Sure they designed their moments… but Leah and weren't done, this was our journey. They were ready to jump ten steps ahead. But there were firsts we still had left... Moment to build. Things to learn.

“All mine, Trouble.” I smiled. “For now… one day they will get to play.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

This was all she needed for now. Being seen, seeing him, and understanding we wouldn’t stop from forever. Just not right now.

She didn’t turn her back on us, but she did close her eyes. The excitement was too strong for her to sleep, but we were getting better at the space thing in the bubble when Embry or I pushed limits to tease and / or play.

Another line of the melted mess left at the bottom of the tub, telling me this game was coming to its end. Seeing him tonight like this,  was enough to show how much he had evolved. We both had. I placed hard kisses over soft bites on his thighs. Placing my knees inside his legs and spreading them open. Giving him an image to remember.

•- Embry Call -•

I would have chuckled if she let me catch my breath. But she knew exactly how to keep right on that cusp... exactly where she wanted me... and damn it was fucking sexy. That wolf of hers... unlike Leah, she wasn't one to step back and watch, she wanted to see. She like her attention. Something she and I had in common.

My eyes flared wide taking in that sight before me. how in the name of the Spirits did I end up here. With the most incredibly beautiful woman between my thighs. This was a view I was never going to forget.

There was no resisting her hand pressing against my thighs. Okay... maybe a little just to remind her of the strength that could close in around her where she'd place herself. But her tongue against my skin... those muscles turned to jelly.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My tongue followed the line of each of his muscles. Carving out the journey for him to in his imagination.

Letting my nails tenderly trace his skin, the feel of his body giving me that telling tightening  in my stomach and the sensation of pulsing in my core.

It was hard not to take notice of the twitching beneath his boxers. The scent poured freely around us.

Sitting a little, I gravely stretched out the knot in my back, just at my hair fell loosely and cascaded down my shoulders.

•- Embry Call -•

Fuck! I could see where her eyes kept darting to. She was better a self-control but that didn’t mean her desires and urges were any different from mine… It just meant she worked harder to control it.

Her scent overwhelmed my senses, and it raised self onto one elbow to take her in all her glory.

I reached out and swept her hair back over her shoulder before it brushed through the sticky mess. As much I would like the excuse to carry her to the shower… Her hair was just too beautiful.

My fingers slipped into her hair, lacing my fingers through to keep it from falling forward. And using that position to guide her back up my body my lips were craving the feel of hers.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

This was as much for him as it was for me. Some would say it was all for him, but I would disagree. Seeing him this way, in the most trustworthy position giving himself up to me. It was for us both. So, when his fingers came to save my hair, I knew he was thinking about me as much as I was him.

His hands guided me up again, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t going to make it nice and slow.Lips, tongue, mouth, teeth… it was a journey of pleasure back up the way I had come down, until I sat straddling his hips. Lowering myself over him with my damp panties slipping down the length of his bulging boxers.

When I can face to face my eyes locked onto his. Seeing myself reflected back. I saw the way he saw me.

•- Embry Call -•

She looked at me the way only she did, like she saw every thought and attention in my head. Like she knew exactly what I wanted. The look in her eyes told me she would give me what I wanted... in her own damn time and Fuck! I bit my lip... that as hot.

All pretences of staying still were finished with.

I ached and groaned and tightened my hold on her hair. My hips rolled with a deep moan from the bottom of my soul when that wetness settled and glided over all the right places.

My eyes locked on hers... nothing hidden, nothing held back. It made race even faster than what she was doing to my body. "Kiss me, Trouble." I whispered.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

With his grip on my hair, the reaction of snapping my teeth at him came without thought. My body arched and moved to slide over him again.

My ears ringing with the beating of his heart a rhythm i could live with when we were so open with each other. His eyes weren’t letting mine go, (not that I wanted to be free of him). Added to the mix his lip biting! “I used to get so annoyed when you bite your lips like that.”

But now I knew those bites were for me. And the throbbing pulse reaction told me I didn’t feel the same way now. this was the second time he acted, didn’t push, didn’t force his way. He asked me.

Straightening up I was close to him. Our lips only a hairs width apart. I could feel his hot breath on my face, my lips I knew covered with the sweetness of the mess I made on his body.

•- Embry Call -•

The snap sent a pulse right through me, one I was sure she felt too. I smiled then, freeing my lip. “I have old you it was hot.” My voice low. “About time you caught up.”

My fingers loosened when her lips came so close I thought she was about kiss me. But she was determined to tease me to death today. Even if I was loving every second of it, I wasn't about to tell her that. I had my own weapons too. “You know it’s.” I let my voice soften and my hand slide up her bare back. The other moving through her hair. “How you can literally be kissing me all over and I still crave your lips on mine.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

A ripple of pleasure moved up my skin from his touch, not to under play how his voice played a role in the sensations I felt too. My smooth skin filled with small kisses from the spirits (goosebumps), making my jaw twitch and my breathing uncontrollably uneven.

“Are you choosing this moment to tell me I am slow on the up take?” Raising my eyebrow in that tell tail perfect arch.

“Because I will so kick your arse, and I don’t care how naked or covered in ice cream you are.” My dark gaze fell to his lips as I pulled back teasing again. Then back into him, letting the tip tongue trace his lip line. Spirits! My hips moved down into him, the sensation of pleasure coursing through my body as I circled.

•- Embry Call -•

"Oh, you definitely care." The words rushed to put on a breath. "... About the ice cream." I teased. My heart and breathing completely off kilter, my hand still gliding down her back feeling what I was doing to her in return. "I can tell..." That was a whisper, and I had no idea if it was because I decided to whisper or because it was all I had breath for... I had no idea.

My tongue slipped across my lips when her eyes settled there. But she was far too good at teasing to fall for it. I felt the roll and clench of every muscle she moved on me. I couldn't stop my hips from bucking up against her, my hand moving to her arse... just feeling the way she moved that strong firm body. "Spirits!" I moaned, biting my lip... still carving her kiss like it was oxygen.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Maybe… a little…” I wouldn’t lie, the idea of kicking his arse down the street wasn’t as palatable, as it once was. Some, part of me didn’t want anyone to share in this thing we had between us.

My eyes followed the pull of his teeth on his lips, masking my heartbeat or the scent wasn’t even worth its trouble at this stage.

Pressing my chest into his, my peeked, firm nipples pressed up against his chest. My lips kissed his nose, then his cheeks, tracing up his jawline.

“So…. What did you want now?”

•- Embry Call -•

I couldn't tell her heartbeat from mine anymore. They pounded, erratically, as one. I groaned again, the pressing of those tight nipples against my skin. Oh, I had so many things for when she was done teasing me to death.

 Her lips on my nose and cheeks... Fuck! My back arched and I moaned. "Kiss me already, Trouble." The word rushed out in a plea.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My lips curled up into a smile. I wasn’t going to make him ask again. The fact that he had controlled himself this much up until now showed so much.

Whispering into his ear. “With pleasure, Dimples.” And my lips tracing soft kisses from his ear all the way down his jaw and finally, set upon his lips.

•- Embry Call -•

She was incredible, every move and kiss and whisper of breath added to the intensity and pleasure. My finger glided through her hair… knowing his much trust it took just fur her to allow that touch. Simple to many… but i know what it meant to her.

Just those words my ear cause a ripple through me, sexual pleasure heavily laced with the deep, unparalleled intimacy I only very shared with her.

The moment her lips touch mine… Bliss. Soft and warm and tasting of ice cream. I kissed her back slow, soft, not in a rush though would be in after her relentless teasing. I kissed her like I had all the time in the world.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Mmm…” the soft sound came so naturally more often from me these days. With no walls up, no need to hold myself back, or hide who I am. Embry brought trust into the bubble.

His lips moved in sync with mine. His fingers moving into my hair sending kind waves of energy into my soul. (Or, it’s how I felt it.)

But the kiss… it was another kind of trust. My hands moved around his shoulders, holding him close. Chest to chest. Only the thin fabric of my bra coming between us.

I closed my eyes, listening to his lips, his heart and mine. Kissing him!

•- Embry Call -•

My fingertips reached the end of her hair and wrapped big arms around her live, lean body... Wanting to wrap up every inch of her I possibly could.

I felt her kiss everywhere, every nerve sang with nothing more than a kiss. Just kissing someone hadn't ever felt like this until I kissed Leah.

At least, after I realised, he wasn't going to kill me for it. I nipped at her lip, squeezing her a little. "Still real." I whispered... it was our thing... in these moments that felt so far out of this world, the thing that reminded us, we were here. We were locked in this bewildering kiss. It was real, it was ours.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I felt his all-consuming presents and it didn’t put my guard up. The trust has grown greatly since we came together in our bubble.

If two words could make me smile, these were them. “I’ve got you.” We knew the truth of our time together, the reminders we set in place to show us the way. And not. “Spirits.” I felt him all over.

My hands moved up the back of his neck, into his silky black hair, our tongue entwined together in a deeper kiss. I felt him holding me, the tightening of his arms around me, and I gave him the same in return too.

•- Embry Call -•

My response to her was a low hum onto her lips. The kiss somehow deepened, everything you felt you reached the depths of it; with one suckle of her tongue or nip of her lip… we fell further. Sharing breath, souls and bodies tangling.

I could stay like this for days. Her fingers in my hair made me smile.   I had no idea how long we stayed like that before I whispered. “This would normally be the part where I carry you to bed… but I know you aren't letting a sticky mess like me between those sheets.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Biting his lip before I rolled off to lay myself down on the floor beside him. Curling my hair up before to move it out of the way I let it fall to the side away from the sticky mess that was Embry Call.

“Hmm… should I be worried you know me so well?” My skin hummed with the energy of what we had been doing, making me take slow and calming deep breaths to bring my heart back down to a normal rhythm.

“You aren’t getting under my sheets. That’s for sure.” Pointing to the hallway leading to my bedroom and bathroom.

•- Embry Call -•

"Oh, you should be worried, Trouble," I smirked, my body protesting against the loss of her heat and her weight on my chest.

"I plan on using my knowledge of all kinds of evil things... like where to touch you to make you scream my name. You know... things like that."

I knew we needed space the let our self-control reset. So, I reached out and found her hand entwining our fingers. Then I laughed. "Really! You're gonna make me clean up your mess!?" I teased. "So, unlike you!"

"Just gimme a minute to let the blood flow return to my brain so I don't faint when I stand up."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My lips were curled up in a smile. One of those true ones which he brought to life.

I didn’t move my glance to him, just listened and then laughed at his attempt to draw me in. And most nights, I would be right there. But I needed that moment too.

“I didn’t know you were game to play the damsel in need card, Embry Call.”

Finally turning my attention fully on him. “I’m happy to walk your to the back yard and hose your arse down. If you prefer that instead?”

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed as hard as I could give that I was still pretty breathless. “Sounds like a good show for your curtain-twitching neighbour.” I teased. “We could add a little music… charge admission?” I chuckled.

I smiled when turned to look at me finding her eyes and locking them in. My fingers tightened on her instantaneously.

“Maybe I'll stick to a cold shower… or the whole village will be talking about us.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Squeezing his hand back I smiled thinking of #BettyHill and the way her face would scrunch up if she saw him playing a show in my yard. “Go, shower. We aren’t going to put any shows on. Something…. They are for my eyes only.” Raising one of my eyebrows in a perfect arch.

“Unless you’d rather the side hustle? I wouldn’t want to hinder your career aspirations.”

•- Embry Call -•

I bit my lip, definitely not thinking about kissing her… we were cooling off. Not heating up again… yet. A wicked glint entered my eyes.

There was something about her not wanting to share that sent a thrill through my spine. “In that case I'll leave the door unlocked…” I lifted her hand to lips and kissed her knuckles. Sating my wolf who was still fixated on kissing her. “In case you want a show.”

I slipped my hand from hers and dragged myself to my feet.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

We didn’t miss the look in his eyes. She got excited at the meaning behind it, and I knew that trouble wasn’t far off.

She reached out, letting me feel her deep desire to touch his warrior, and i allowed it to wash over me. My skin rippled with sensation of that same excitement sitting up as he walked away, I pulled my open hair into a bun at the top of my head. Pulling my knees up to my chest, my eyes following him until I couldn’t see anymore.

“Remember it’s a cold shower for a reason.” Even if I was biting through inside of my cheeks.

•- Embry Call -•

I glanced back to where sat. “Spirit’s she is beautiful!” The words were out before I knew it. I chuckled at her comment. At home my showers were hot and… well… But here? Typically, cold. To cool off after…

“Maybe I’ll leave the door unlocked then.” Even though I was fairly certain I never did… there no need. It was always just us here. But teasing was fun.

“In case you feel like another show.” I called back… and let the door click, but not lock behind me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Lips pressed to fight the smile. Still, I found it hard to deal with compliments. Thinking back to a time where he earned slaps over the side of his head for saying something nice to me. And now…

Shaking my head, standing I bent down to pick up the tub of ice cream. The melted dregs weren’t worth saving. And the spoon too.

“Oh, I’m sure the show you set off in my warriors mind is going to be far more interesting.”

She smirked but said nothing.

“But… Sure... Leave my opinion open.” Speaking in a normal tone.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed, turning on the water. Not grinning to myself that she had the temperature turned up. I knew that meant she was thinking about the last time she was in here.

"See... you not dream... but day dreaming counts." I grinned. "And apparently Leah Clearwater daydreams about me!" I boasted and stepped into the water.

I kept talking as if I was speaking to myself now. "I wonder what Leah thinks about in the shower... with the temperature cranked all the way up? Strange really since people like to take any chance we can to cool off?" I stuck my under the stream and let the cool water redirect my blood flow... while my thoughts tried to send it rushing int the opposite direction.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I was pottering in the kitchen, washing the spoon, my hands, even splashed some water over my face listening to him speaking to me from the shower.

“Do I look like someone who has time to day dream?” Taking two bottles of water out of the fridge before I made my way around the house tidying up as I closed down for the night. Did he have a point? Is that what I was doing? With the hot water?

Setting the waters down on the side tables first in my bedroom, I then walked past the bathroom to drop our clothes into the washer. Glancing over at the door.

“Do you still cool down? Or is it all about the heat still?” He’d told me before how his showers at home were hot. But was it still?

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and rinsed the ice cream away. I had heard her moving around her room, from one side of the bed to the other... I didn't need to scrub the scent of her from my skin. One of the rare acts my wolf and I disagree on... he was surprisingly possessive... and honest. I kinda liked it. But the bubble was worth protecting, and he knew that deep down.

"I do... after a patrol... or... you know... here. When I need to get a grip." I smirked; pun intended... "But when I haven't seen you... or I dream about you... miss you... it's all about the heat..."

These weren't the kind of questions she would like to answer... but I listened for her reactions. That was what answered them for me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Once the washer was on I froze in my spot bent over in front of it. My eyes flew over to the bathroom door, my heart stopped dead.

By the Spirits! Why did this man find it so easy to say the thinks I couldn’t even come out and convince myself were true? Here was Embry, words flowing like rain storms!

Standing up I felt blood rushing up the side of my neck. With my warriors about pushed me to step towards the door... pushing me towards him… or more that she wanted close to his soul… his warrior.

So, this was how it felt? When someone told you they missed you?

•- Embry Call -•

Everything stopped but the sound of the water… and there it was. Her answer to same question. Everything I needed to know was in her stillness and those missed heartbeats. I smiled and started to wash my hair.

“I mean that hot water isn't really the same… but it makes me closer to you… it's as close as possible to your skin on mine.” I listened for reactions, shampoo bubbles washing over the places her mouth had been…. And places it hadn't.

“I find myself craving that heat… it's funny considering the lengths we all go to cool off.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

His voice always made me feel things that I didn’t allow myself before our bubble. But this… this sensation engulfed me in a way I hadn’t thought possible. I didn’t want to run, I didn’t want to lock him out, I was processing… my heart... it slipped again at his statement which I knew was true. We ran hot. So, it was natural to want to cool down where possible.

I opened the back door, the one he had come over uninvited to fix. When my eyes fell to the small back porch. I recalled sitting there with him. Drinking a beer and talking! Using my words… when home was where I had always been silent.

“Hmm…” it’s all the sound I could make before stepping outside, sitting myself on the first step looking up at grandmother.

‘He is a part of her, you know.’ My warriors whispered. I told her I knew.

•- Embry Call -•

I heard the door and her silence. I smiled as I conditioned my hair... locks as irresistible as mine didn't happen by accident.

She was standing in the night air... like I was standing under this cool stream. Silent but for that light hum... no doubt that magnificent creature inside her as whispering to her.

I finished my shower silently and turned off the water... Now I smelled Leah in a very different way, her shampoo... soap... the scent I remembered from tribal councils and pack meetings, mixed with salt air and the forest from her ride to  get where she was going.

I dried off a little... knowing it wouldn't take long for my body heat to finish the job. In her room, there was a drawer... A place in Leah's home for my things, I slung a towel around my hips, even though I knew she was still at the back door and from that sacred (to me), secret place I pulled out a pair of shorts and stepped into them. Using the towel to tousle my hair until the length stopped dripping.

I sat on the edge of her bed, leaving her to her silent moment until she was ready to join me here.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

It wasn’t hard to follow Embry around the house. His bare feet padding over the floor boards, his hands opening and closing the drawers in my bedroom. The show of the elastic snapping into place around his waist.

All of that over the sound of the laundry on a quick spin. I finally stood up off the stepped, I needed to work myself under the cold water before bed too. And spending all night sat out here, would only slow the progress down.

I closed the door softly, walking across the hall into the bathroom and closed the door. Removing my bra and underwear before reaching in to turn the water on.

I kept my hair tied up and out of the way stepping under the running cold water. With my eyes closed my face up letting the water stream down doing its job.

•- Embry Call -•

I tried not to let myself picture Leah naked… soapy… wet…  fuck! A few minutes after the water started, I knew she'd decided cold shower was needed too. I smirked.

Hot water smelled different, even from the next room.

I distracted myself by plugging in my phone and the hospital beeper. Taking a moment to glance out the open window… it sees what was she’d been fascinated by earlier. A nearly full moon hung heavy overhead… the clouds slowing her space to shine down. I felt her pressing in around me… no tugging or pulling. Because I was exactly where she wanted me to be.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Humming to myself, steeping out of the showers I reached for a clean towel. Tapping my body dry, I wrapped it around myself folding it under to keep it in place.

The mirror hadn’t steamed, so I stood looking at my reflection as I brushed my teeth. Even with the humming I could hear him moving around the room. Each sound had its own distinct identity. And once again (as I thought it each time he stayed), Embry’s presence wasn’t alien as it used to feel. It felt….

‘In harmony…’ she helped me find the words. And yeah, it was true.

By the  time I came out of the bathroom the laundry had finished his quick clean, so I placed them into the dryer. They would be clean and dry by morning for him to use. Before stepped into the bedroom, I stood at the door looking into the view before me, he was looking out.

“Hey.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smile to myself still… hearing her head the two kitchens again to put the clothes into the dryer… it hadn’t even dawned on me when the heard the washer stop. Which was strange because I was the one that did the laundry at home.

I wondered silently to myself; would it too  easy to fall into a pattern of taking this for granted? The way she took care of me under this roof… I scented her before I heard her soft Hey.

The sight of her had nothing on the view out the window. My heart skipped; my stomach swooped… my smiled took over my whole  face.

There was my answer.

No. I would never take this woman for granted. “Hey.” I said back. Moving back across the room and find her favourite, formerly-mine t-shirt. She didn't even keep this one with the clothes I left here.

“Allow me.” I smiled and stepped around behind her. Pressing a kiss to her shoulder as I freed the towel… warm from the heat of her skin. I pulled the shirt over her head… then my fingers trailed (shakily for some reason) down her arms until I took her hands lifted them though the arms one at a time.

There were goosebumps raised my arms. The moment felt heavy, poignant.

… I slid my hand down the faded tour dates on her back, then wrapped my arms around her. Pulling her back against my chest and kissing her softly beneath her ear. “I see you, Leah.” I whispered. tiny and tremendous things she did for the people she cared about.

That was why I knew I would take her for granted. My eyes were open now… and fixed on her. Always.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

It’s felt as though something had snapped into place. The willingness to stand still, to allow his to remit my towel and dress in me into my new favourite sleeping attire. Considering I slept naked before the bubble was formed around us.

My breathing was very slow, the sound of his heart speaking to me. While i kept my eyes on the dark sky.

Biting the inside of my cheeks when the fabric fell just below the curve of my bottom. I now closed my eyes stepping gently back into his strong chest.

Placing my hands over his around my stomach.

“I know.” whispering it for his ears only. “I’m not hiding.” I’d told him this before. Just as he told me how much he saw.

•- Embry Call -•

I rested my cheek against her, my nose just rushing her jaw.  Her hands placed above mine told me a hundred different things.

“You haven't in a long time…” At least it left like a long time, I'm moment like this I could hardly remember what it was like to be shut out of Leah’s world.

“And I'm not blinded anymore,” I whispered. “I won't be closing my eyes anytime soon.”  I smile and kiss her hair. “Not literally though…” I chuckled softly.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I held my breath and opened my eyes, living in the moment just as he’d asked me too. It wasn’t hard as it once had been.

Squeezing his hands I turned around to face him. Kissing the tip of his nose before pulling away. Keeping our hands links I walked backwards towards the bed.

“For now… let’s close your eyes for the night. When they open again, my walls will still be down.” Slowly stepping back until I felt my bed, and then climbed onto it only then letting his hand down.

•- Embry Call -•

Smiling like a fool as she leads me backwards towards the bed… Spirits this woman was so beautiful.

Instead of walking around the bed, I climbed over her to my side. My smile was a smirk momentarily… My Side. Pausing, half straddling her to lean in and press a kiss to her throat. “If you insist. But I owe you a very sticky... Yet tasty, night on your living room floor.”

Then an a more serious note I whispered. “I stopped expecting them to come back up a long time ago. Sleep, Trouble. You have a big day ahead of you.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my eyes. A snap of my teeth. All with a smile for him, and only him.  “I know.” I whispered back.

Falling into my pillow, turning my face to face him once we were settled.  “Sleep tight, Dimples. Let’s grandmother watch over your dreams.”

Taking in one slow breath I knew things were going to be good. We were going to be good. My walls were down, and I wasn’t even trying to bring them up.

“Sweet dreams.” I whispered closing my eyes.

The End....

[blazingtheway]

The First Steps on a New Path - Storyline 10 – Together ( Part Three)

Continuing on From.....

•- Embry Call -•

“It’s payback for all the times I told you I was just here to look pretty, and you put me to work anyway!” I laughed and loaded the box into the Jeep. #Danni laughed so hard at Leah’s joke that she snorted and turned bright red. She clamped her hand over her mouth. She was  trying very hard to impress Leah. It was cute.

“She thinks that she’s hilarious.” I laughed and headed back towards the building with the supplies. “You like old cars?”

‘My dad does… I like going to car shows with him. You’re probably a car geek like him if you’ve kept  this going for so long.’ She hefted another box, and I grabbed three.

“Not particularly… I just always believed it was better the fix what you have instead of just replacing it. And I guess I get attached to things. But it’s getting hard to find parts for the old girl.” I  looked fondly at my baby and slide in the last of the boxes. I nodded towards Leah. “This one over here prefers two wheels to one.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Listening to the conversation between the two made me smirk some more.

#Danni felt comfortable enough to let herself show her true self with her laughter. It was kind of a cute sound with the added element of her reddened cheeks.

Until the conversation was set back on me  and the eyes widened tuning and rounding on me.

‘You ride?’ She asks like an excited child.

“Hmm…” nodding my head once. The girls turning to look at Embry and then back to me. ‘What kind of a bike is it?’

“He…” setting the boxes in my hand down and the banner from under my arm in the back of the jeep. “He is a Rocket X.” She clearly wanted more information from her reaction.

“2,500cc, 4,000 rpm , 2.5 litre engine…. Three-cylinder engine sitting in line with the chassis. When you Open up his throttle… he sings.” If I could take out my phone and take a photo of her, I would have. ‘He sounds amazing. Do you like giving people rides on him?’

My eyes went to Embry as to say. ‘Why the hell did you pull me into this conversation?’

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and shook my head and laughed… “Really?” I gave Leah a deadpan look and then looked at #Danni again. “But he also runs on fossil fuel.” She giggled a little… seeing the irony of Leah knowing all those facts off the top of her head but would only say the Jeep ran on  fossil fuel.

“Nah she likes to keep him all to herself… But she makes up for it by sharing her time, wisdom and a healthy dose of sarcasm with all of us every single day.” I was teasing, but I gave Leah a look that said I saw all that she gave to all of us… and that did  include sarcasm too.

I closed the tailgate when the last box was in. “It's been an absolute pleasure Danni, and next time I’m in town I will certainly trust you and your guys to detail my beautiful baby.” I tapped the soft top. “Today she’s working hard for the good of the  Tribe, she’s earned a spa day.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Facts, Call. It’s all about knowing the fact.”

They would all worry if my levels of sarcasm faulted. And he knew it too.

“Spa day.” Smirking at this little fact. He knew about spa days. An image of him with a face mask on came to light. Making my shake my head now. Reaching my hand out I shook the girls. Thanking her for her time and the help she and her dad were giving my Ma and tribe.

‘If you’re in town in the weekends, maybe bring your bike down. The guys here are great at detailing bike too.’

She was smiling, so I didn’t tell her that I did all those things by myself. Cleaning my baby, and detailing him, it was my way to relax and taking some time to myself.

“I’ll let Call over here lead the way. And… like I said. I will be sure to send business this way.”

Opening the door I slipped into the red  jeep, no one could miss this thing coming from the colour to the sound of it. And you could tell it was well cared for by Embry.

“Where to next?” The cloud over us shifted a little, letting the sun glimpse through. Giving me a reason to take my jacket off and place it over my knees.

•- Embry Call -•

I raised an eyebrow at Leah. “Because men can’t know about spa days? That’s very old-fashioned for such a modern woman.” I teased. I knew that Leah would never bring her baby here… tending to him was her meditation.

I took #Danni’s hand gently and smiled at her. “It's been an  absolute pleasure, Danni. Be sure to pass the gratitude of our Elders onto your father for us.” I winked and she blushed… I still had it! Even if her eyes did flit immediately to Leah and she lifted her free hand to hide that blush. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you very soon.”

She glanced up when Leah climbed into the driver’s seat. ‘Most guys won’t let anyone drive their vehicles… especially one they work so hard on.’ She said and I knew that anyone really meant women.

“If there’s one thing you should know about me #Danni; it's that I  am definitely not most guys.” I chuckled and she swatted my hand out of hers, which I moved so she barely made contact, saving her human hand the pain even a playful strike might cause. We said our goodbyes and I climbed into the passenger seat.

“I do believe that  the day is ours now, Trouble.” I smiled at her. “So… home… Unless you have a better idea?” I quirked a brow.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Not at all.” My lips curled up a little. “More the fact that it is you, and of course you know about spa days.” Saying it with a matter-of-fact tone.

Not saying anything more just giving a small nod of my head when #Danni smiled and waved at me. But I did still there listening to the conversation they had. Embry was so much better than me as the building relationships with people. Today he had done so without thinking a number of times. His smile, the Call charm, the way he gave people time too. It was a gift, a skill.

And #Danni has hit the nail on the head at one point. Tiffany Call had brought her boy up in a way that other boys didn’t see. And now that he was a man on his own two feet, I could see his mother in him. Not just those eyes, or the dimples. But in his heart too.

Turning the key his Jeep came to life on the first try. Putting it in gear I slowly eased us out of the lot. “Home? Without Pizza from Leo? Do you want to explain that outcome to my Ma or your mom?”

•- Embry Call -•

“Sometimes I like to spoil myself…” I smirked and her. “And Glamour pays for all of their staff to have a membership at the best gym in town… their sauna is top notch.”

I laughed at Leah reminding me that if we returned without pizza… very specific pizza… there be  trouble. “I almost forgot about the pizza… The company of two charming young women can do that to a guy.” I laughed and buckled up. When we pulled out of the car wash I turned to Leah and smirked. “You know… I think our two-spirited friend back there liked me better by the  end.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I’ve told you a million times, you’re too easy to distract. And today it was two women? So much for that warrior within keeping you in line. Maybe I need to have words.”

Keeping my hands on the wheel, and my eyes on the road. Noticing everything happening. The cars, trucks, bikes. The people on the sideway, the kids playing who were likely to run free. Cataloguing it all as I drove.

However, I could still see him out the side of my eye. Appreciating the fact that he put his belt on. It helped my shoulders relax just enough. ‘You’ve got this.’ My warrior whispered to me. Her openness protecting me from myself as she always did.

“Remind me to tell Leo if he is there. Have him made your pizza not so special for payback.” It wasn’t going to happen, that man didn’t know how to make everything that wasn’t perfect in his eyes.

Shaking my head, I turned his jeep onto Main Street, heading back towards the pitch and where the pizza truck lived. My mind going back to the time we spent with #Danni.

“I think she is a free spirit now.” Speaking with the respect the girl deserves. “She doesn’t see the flesh, more that she connects to the soul. Didn’t you see how she was drawn to you?”

It was something I knew about Embry and Seth, my kid. They were so open with their kindness that everyone was pulled into their orbit.

•- Embry Call -•

“Hey… he does all the hard work so I can enjoy life in the moment.” I teased her. I watched her taking everything in… that composed, calm/alert quality in her body language. We had been in the car a lot today… maybe it was wearing on her now.

I rolled my shoulders settling  a little into the seat. “We’ve spent a lot of time in the car today… You sure you don’t wanna stop somewhere, before Leo’s…” I lowered my voice and waggled my brows. “We could take one of the hiking trails… get lost in the woods like a couple of townies.” I stressed the word lost. “We could stretch out our legs… get some fresh air.”

I smiled at her again when she talked about #Danni. “Well, whatever shape that girl’s soul is... it’s a good one. She was far more drawn to you at the beginning.” I chuckled. “She’s going to fall in love… a lot…”  I laughed a little harder. “And it will be real and heart-breaking every single time until it's forever. #Seth will be the same… Unless…” Well, we both knew what the ‘unless’ could be…

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm…” He hasn’t wrong when it comes to reading people. “She reminds me a little of Littlesea Junior. That girl gives her heart away like it is candy.” And she loved full heartedly each and every time. How? I didn’t know.

Seeing him out of the side of my eye, I began to chew on the inside of my cheek. My wolf stirred telling me the man was clearly a mind reader. As much as I wanted to be done and go home, this had been the most amount of time I’d speat on four wheels in a long while.

“There’s not unless about it.” I finally said turning the jeep south at the next stop sign. “The kid has his soul our there. He just hasn’t met her yet.” I could see my baby brother so clearly, and I could tell that he wasn’t completed yet.

I took the next left taking the jeep towards the Peabody Creek Trailhead. Even a town such as Port, had a few beautiful trails that could make you feel at one with the earth and the forest.

“Stretching our legs, it is… If you think you can keep up with me, that is.” Lifting my chin towards the  sign post telling him where we were heading towards.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed. “You know… the guys always thought that she would be imprinted on someday… but I never thought so. She’s a free spirit… Not like #Ness and #Kim; a different kind. I don’t think the Spirits would choose that for her, she needs to fly free… not that being an  imprint means you aren’t free…” I laughed. “Maybe I don’t have the right word to describe this for once.”

I nodded when she talked about #Seth. “He does… no doubt… They’ll be tested on the journey to find each other… because that kid will have an epic.”

I wasn’t actually expecting Leah to take my suggestion… but she was herself in the woods… so I suppose I should have. I smirked at her. “I don’t have to keep up with you Leah. I just have to be able to find you.” I chuckled… because that was kind of my thing.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Biting the inside my cheeks I took in what he was trying to say. “No. I actually get it.”

The girl even as a child was free in a way that the spirits loved, she was followed by love and affection. By anyone who saw her. Her family, the tribe, and the spirits. “We all have our callings, she has hers too. It will come to light when it is her time. Until then…” She would mark her place in the world until her path, whatever it was came calling.

Glancing at him from the side of my eye, the sound of his laughter filled the jeep surrounding me. It was then when my shoulders dropped a little and relaxed.

“Hmm… you could find me, but by the time you get there. I’ll be gone again.” These spirits had given him a gift that made sure he was never alone if he wanted to.

In wolf form Embry had an uncanny sense of direction, he could tell where  exactly any wolf connected to the mind map was, then without moments wait, the quickest route to get to them.

The scent of the forest called to me, as we left the town behind.

Bypassing the signed to the visitor centre, turning us towards the entrance of one of the longer trails. The townies didn’t use as much, even if sometimes you could never tell.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled a little… “This is why it's so easy to talk to you... you get it.  even when I make no sense. I’m sure she does. She’s even better at living in the moment than I am.” I looked at the signs we passed.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever hiked this one… I tend to head more  towards Neah Bay when I wanna get into the woods away from home.” I glanced at her and smiled; her whole-body language had changed already. She was more relaxed before she even parked the Jeep. We parked the car, and I climbed out, heading to the back of the Jeep to reach  around the backpack I kept there… it just had basics in it. “Just so we don’t look like inexperienced townies.” I chuckled. We already weren’t exactly dressed for hiking.

“You know you really brighten up when you’re in the wood, did you know that? It’s like another part of  you comes alive.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The thing was… he made sense to me. I didn’t know how or when it happened, but something clicked into place. And the guy who once annoyed the life out of me with all his positivity, now made sense!

Climbing out of his jeep, it took me less than two minutes to braid my hair. Pulling it back and out of the way.

“Is that because going to Neah Bay takes you closer to your grandparents?” He had a connection to ancestors of two tribes. Joining him at the back, watching him gather his things my eyes moved over the opening, and I knew the way we would enter.

“It will help to blend in.” We really weren’t dressed to hike, but I didn’t really need a dress code. The blending was for the benefit for the people we could pass on the trail. Throwing the keys of his jeep to him. “You best keep those safe.” Pointing to  the pathway I began to walk. “The forest was and is my solace, it was the perfect place for me to go before I had my own place. The spirits have greater strength in nature, so it just makes sense.” As soon as I saw it, I pointed it out to Embry. “That there, is the single log entrance to the tail.” He was right, I came into my own when I was out here. But, he had been noticing?

•- Embry Call -•

I nodded and slung the backpack over one shoulder. “I think so… When there’s nowhere else I need to be it’s the direction that makes the most sense to me.” I smiled and caught the keys and tucked them into the front of the backpack and zipped the pouch.

I followed her towards the trailhead. “#Jacob says it is my inner homing beacon tugging me to my other home.” I laughed, but I knew he was right. La Push would always be home, but Neah Bay would always have a piece of my soul too.

I stopped and looked at the log-turned-bridge stretching across the creek. “Oh, I know a certain teenage girl that will get a kick outta this.” I chuckled and snapped a picture to send the Bear later on. This was not the time to field a text storm from her. I didn’t want my attention divided.

When we reached the tree-bridge I motioned to Leah to go first. “Age before beauty.” I waggled my brows because the subtle jibe was less likely to get me pushed into a creek than the saying ladies first.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

While he took the picture, my hand brushed over the inside pocket of my jacket, where the small device now sat, no movement, no sound. It was safe. 

It was hard not to hear the meaning behind his words. One in particular.

‘Need…’

Such a small word and it had so many intensions attached to it. 

“You know if you need to get away. You aren’t alone…. You have people who will give you what you need. Even if that’s time to leave and answer that call.” My wolf rolled her eyes at me, but she didn’t say what I felt her feel. “We all have that pull in us, more so I feel since the warriors in us awoke.” 

That’s how I liked to think of our change now. My wolf and the spirits always spoke about the warriors being in all our people. We were just the lucky ones, who woke up when our people needed us. Of course, in the early days, I called bill shit on this thought process. But the more I lived in my skin, the more I saw this to be true. 

“Is the call ever so strong that you feel like you’re in the wrong place?” He’d said before, how something in him always told him where he needed to be.  

The sight of the log bridge brought #Bear to his mind. Nodding my head once as I spoke again. 

“Hmm… yeah…. You’ll have to bring her up now that you know where it is.”

I knew that Kiddo would be happy to run the miles of forest with the guys. And they would carry her back if she over did it. 

Turning to look at him, with my eyebrow raised I shook my head slowly. “How old are you, five?” 

Reaching my hand out I smacked him upside the head. Then without any hesitation, with one foot in front of the other, I started over the damp wood without needing to hold the hand rail the locals had added. 

“Just say it as it is, you need to see perfection at its best.” Turning my head back over my shoulder, I was smirking now. 

‘More like he wants to check your arse out.’ My wolf teased. She was slowly waking up with the call of the forest so strong all around us. 

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her.. because, of course, she wanted to make sure I was okay and getting the downtime I needed. “I know… I don’t see the responsibilities I have as a burden. Or I try my best not to… mostly I succeed at that. Looking after Mom… the pack, the pups… the girls… I  love being part of it all. And yes…” I admitted. “Sometimes it's hard and I struggle just like anyone else. But lately…” I smiled at her. “Honestly… I know you’ll never let me live it down… but everything just feels… lighter… easier.” I knew that it was because of this thing between her and me.

I felt… happier, supported, in a way I never was before, and I had always been lucky enough to have amazing people to support me and encourage me in my life. And I wasn’t too macho to admit that now… with her… I felt protected from the things that had crept into my life and made me feel like I was constantly at odds with the world. She gave me the space and security I needed to let all of it out and then she was there letting me just be me it that time we had together in our bubble.

“I know where I can go when I need something. I promise… I’m not going to make the mistake of going it alone again. But what #Jake would call my inner compass… lately it's telling me that La Push is where I need to be and where I’m needed too. But I still make the trip out to Neah Bay for a day here and  there.”

I thought about her question. Did I ever feel like I was in the wrong place? “No… La Push was never the wrong place, even when I was a kid and it felt like it was. It’s home, Neah Bay is home too. But La Push is where I want to be.”

I tried to dodge the swat, but she was too quick. “Mind the hair!” I laughed and ran my hand through it. I followed her across the log. I was definitely checking out her arse.

“I’ve told you many times, Trouble… You gotta learn to slow down and enjoy the view.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“That wasn’t my meaning… I know you wouldn’t see any of it as a burden, but it doesn’t mean you deal with the bad on your own.” He’d done that once before, and I was still feeling it in my bucket of sins. How I could have missed his drowning while being his Beta. And now… Well… it was even deeper… And to hear him saying that things felt lighter these days, something must be working, right?

“Inner compass?” My lips curled up into a smile. “I like the sound of that. But if you tell Jake.” I did the ‘I will kill you’ motion once I reached the other side and turned to watch him following my lead.

‘See, now we get to enjoy the view. The boy is…’ I mentally snapped my teeth at my wolf. Some things didn’t need to be said to be felt. ‘Fine, but the hair… he is right… lets not mess with perfection.’ She laughed when I rolled my eyes. From the start she’s had a soft spot with Embry Call, and today was no different.

“Who said I’m not stopping to enjoy the view?” Raising my eyebrow, while pushing my hands into my jacket pockets. “Now, are you going to take all the rest of the day on the log? Get a move on.” I’d already turned whist walked away to catch the trail. This one was different to Royal Basin, as more people had walked a deeper path into the ground. But half way in there were off paths that could be taken for those who wanted to test their hiking skills.

•- Embry Call -•

“No… I know that. You of all people would never think that… #Jake gets it… #Quil gets it… But there are some;  like the staff at the hospital and people on the Rez that think I’m some kind of amazing son just because I hardly miss an appointment and if I did I’d make sure  someone else is there. They tell me how I must give up so much of my time to look after her. All I want to do is roll my eyes at them and tell them it’s the bare minimum.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “My lips are sealed… but honestly… I think you guys overestimate my  abilities.”

I paused when she stopped and looked back to check me out now. “I’m just letting you have a really good look. I did… so it's only fair. ” I teased her. “You’re welcome.” I grinned as I hopped off the log. I had to admit the whole idea of crossing a creek on a  log gave a sense of whimsy to this little adventure… the railing added to it was easily ignored to maintain the illusion.

I lengthened my stride to catch up with her on the path. “Any secret spots on this hike?” I leaned over closer to her and whispered. I clearly  remembered the trip to the Royal Basin and everything that happened there. I still had dreams about it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Shaking my head as I walked. “That there isn’t a reflection on you, it’s actually the sadness of how some people in this world are alone and without people who care for them.” My eyes moved to find him for a split second as I continued.

“The hospital staff… even some on the Rez… they see people who have the mindset that being there in someone’s time of need is a burden… They see people who weep at not belonging. So, when they see you. It’s something they need to comment on.”

My finger was already up flipping him off before he stopped talking about me checking him out. I mean I knew I had a big head when it came to eyes on me, but Embry Call was in a league of his own.

“You really need to come off your high horse. Unless you want some help with it. I’m happy to kick your arse from time to time.” My eyebrow raised when he asked about secret spots. I guess he knew I liked to find places no one else did so that I could be alone with myself and my wolf.

“It’s not much of a secret, but… every few people know about a spot. Question is do you want to be told… or should it a show and tell?”

•- Embry Call -•

I nodded... she did have a point. “You’re probably right... I always thought that maybe they just didn’t believe they’d have anyone in their lives that would do for them if they were ever in need.”

I laughed at the irony… a woman like Leah showing the slightest amount of  interest in someone was the ultimate ego boost and here she was threatening the keep that same ego in check. “That’s probably the most ironic thing I have ever heard, Clearwater.” I smiled at her. “But we both know you won't take me home your mom covered in dirt… So, I’m  safe…” I quirked a brow. “For now.”

I tilted my head like I was thinking about her proposition…. “You know I love a surprise. Lead the way.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Okay, he also hit a nail on the head. There were so many who didn’t believe in those around them. Maybe I had been one of those people for the longest time.

‘You used to call yourself a lone wolf while surrounded by two packs.’ She was awake, watching, and of course commenting.

“Who in the name of the spirits is being ironic? I’m telling you out right… my arse is worth the hype. Yours…. Hmmm…” lifting my hand and moving it from side to side.

My lips curled up into a smirk, he really believed I wouldn’t kick his arse before going home to Ma?

‘You know you wouldn’t, she would chew your ear off.’ Spirits, she was annoying when she was right. Rolling my eyes now at her.

“Sometimes, getting your ear chewed off by your Ma is worth the trouble.” Answering them both together.

“Anyway, it would give Ma  a reason to feed you and pull your cheeks. You wouldn’t take the joy of doing it from her, would you?” The path curled off to the north, and the east. The northern side slowly growing steeper and the one we take.

“Some surprises, may lead you off the side of a cliff… still want to follow alone, Wisearse?” She huffed. And Fine… I wasn’t going to take him off a cliff. But…. A woman could hope…

•- Embry Call -•

I nudged her with my elbow and laughed. “I’ll remind you of that the next time you grab mine.”

I shook my head again. I knew that wouldn’t but if I kept pushing the issue, she very well may risk the telling-off from #Sue just to prove a point. “And the excuse only your mom  needs to dote on me is that I walked through the door.” I smirked, but it was true. #Sue spoiled the packs; she knew that we had a lot of responsibility, and she would lift the pressure as best she could anytime, we were there. Protecting the tribe was a full-time job on top of  the full-time jobs or schooling that all of us had too.. because we still had human responsibilities to maintain too.

I laughed then when her words pulled from my thoughts. It was a full belly laugh… the kind that had only become a regular occurrence in my life again in the  last few months. “I suppose that would only be fair… But just remember, I got there first.” I turned to grin cheekily at her, laughing the big laugh again.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Lost in that sound. That was the reaction of me and my wolf. We walked slowly watching him so closely that the world melted away. The hum of the spirits peaked in as the wind kissing my skin with a cool breeze.

Spirits… the way his eye lit up, the sound rang sweetly  in my ears, and more so, it was something that made me stop my breathing so that it was the only sound I could hear.

“Spirits.” Shaking my head slowly. Pressing my lips together I began chewing on the inside of my cheeks.

My mind gathered the last words he said. “On please, you may have been the first. But I will be the one who does it with style.”

Without anything else side, I started to jog up the incline, the moss full of some dampness as my boots hit the tops of it.

“Here, it’s up this way.” I broke out into a run, nothing too fast. I knew were alone, there were no new or fresh scents in the forest. But it was better to be careful.

•- Embry Call -•

I hadn’t missed her little whisper… she was paying attention to little things that were shocking her. She was always a detail-orientated person… but I was seeing more and more that details she wouldn’t have paid attention to in the past; were now the first thing she noticed.

But I couldn’t lie... the last few months had brought to light so many things about her that I hadn’t ever let myself focus on before.

“Will there be an audience this time? Or will I get the chance to kiss you in the ocean after you do it with style?” I waggled my brows at her.

I stopped to watch her bound up the bank on the side of the trail. “Spirits.” It was my turn to mutter it now. What a view!..... And she was gone, I huffed a laugh because I should have known. She was so quick. I took the rise in two long strides and  followed her into the trees and tried the catch up with her. Not that it would particularly matter.. we had just spoken about my knack for finding people. Was she testing the theory?

“Is this the part where you make me think I’m chasing you through the woods, but it ends with me going missing without a trace?” I teased her, I didn’t need to shout, she could hear me easily because I could still hear her moving through the trees.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I left his questions unanswered; my words weren’t needed for them. He knew the truth and well, and if there was a question mark, it would give him pause to think.

My breath stayed as even as another person when they strolled in the park, as I leaped the creek after  making sure no one was there to see me.

The trees passed me, while I ducked and dived from the low falling branches. Until the sound of the falling water became clearer and clearer with every passing step taken.

Finally, my direction turned east, with a run up the side  of broken overgrown pathway that opened up into a small clearing. It was funny how the journey to this spot was testing for those who weren’t warriors, and then when you came to a stop. It was cleaned out, so those who found it could enjoy it.

“Still as beautiful.” I whispered to the cascading water and the sound of the hum in the air.

•- Embry Call -•

It was a gorgeous run, the trees were like the trees of home, but the earth was harder, dryer… it didn’t rain as much here, and I could tell by the way the soil felt beneath me. I couldn’t lie… the chase made me want to take off my boots and feel the ground against my bare  feet. Maybe even let my wolf out to explore here a little more. Expand those comprehensive maps my mind seemed to piece together of its own accord.

She made a sharp turn, and I trailed her, this was her surprise so I could follow her lead. I caught glimpses of her on the  terrain where my long stride helped me to compete with her quickness, but I never quite caught up. She was incredible, the way she moved through the trees because she belonged there… she left hardly a trace of her presence behind. Leaving the forest as pristine as it was before she passed through. Her scent and the occasional patch of flattened moss was all that lingered. The sound of cascading water reached my ears.

We came upon a path, and she started to slow and like we were in sync… so did I. I was glad I did because by the time I could see the crashing water she was standing in front of narrow falls, green life encroaching above, around and across the water. The spray that rose from the water caught the light when a breeze parted the branches above and let Grandmother’s light through. It glowed with little  spheres of colour all around her. The mist evaporated in the air before it could settle on her skin or clothes, save for a few determined droplets that settled on her hair and glowed in the dim light. Even with her back to me... She was a vision.

“Spirits.” I muttered. Tilting my face up to a gap in the trees. “I got the message.” I whispered to The Old Woman, she was reminding me once again that my fate and hers travelled the same path. I turned my gaze back to her and smiled.

She was a fucking Goddess. “But thanks for the reminder.” I whispered.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I knew, without asking. His words weren’t for me, he was talking to them. And they were signing with joy in their midst. These places were where I came when I felt I needed a clear path to them, and also when I felt the need to just be with them and no one else. And I had come with him today.

They noted the difference in me today, then danced freely towards him. To the naked eye it would look like mist from the falls, but to me it was more. Mother Earth, the spirts of the water and the wind entwined to join, and to welcome him to them.

“He is listening.” I told them, but they knew this already. Because they pointed up to the sky and I saw the light kissing his forehead. “Spirits” Grandmother was kissing Embry Call, giving him her blessing. Was he on her path?

“Spirits.” I said to myself again, with my eyes not daring to leave the view before me.

The true question was, did he know? It wasn’t my place to step up and say anything, this was a personal moment that no one had the right to spoil or stop. So, I took a few steps away to give them the space he needed to have with her. But them his eyes came to find mine and he smiled that smile. The one that stopped my heart in its tracks.

Tilting my head to the side. I took him in. His broad shoulders, the height, the way his hair caught the light, and his eyes. Spirits his eyes sang so loud each and every day. And I wanted to listen to them now that I’d seen them. I smiled back. Because he has become the one person who saw the truth, no matter how often I tried to hide. There was on hiding when Embry Call looked into your eyes.

•- Embry Call -•

She had turned to face me, and if I had thought she was a vision from behind… there were no words for how she looked with a dewy sheen of mist across her face; evaporating and reforming continuously as the spray from the falls fell again and again over her cheeks. I heard her  words and knew that they weren’t for me. She was having her own moment. And it was beautiful. I watched it all unfold, enraptured.

I smiled and closed the distance between us, I reached up and touched a loose strand of her hair that the droplet had clung to. Running my fingers over it only served the make the soak into the hair, it fell straight and wet against her cheek. I was breaking oh-so-many rules right now. My ears were trained on the world around us… there was no one here, I would never push those boundaries anywhere that would put our little bubble at risk

My eyes stayed locked on hers. They were dancing with the reflected colours of the light shining on the falls and whatever she was thinking. “Don’t kill me.” I whispered to her. Normally those words were followed by a kiss. But right now I just  couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

I lifted my hands to her cheeks, brushing my thumb across the sheen that coated them and watched her skin dry due to her incredible body heat, and then slowly the mist regathered on her face as I cradled it. “Beautiful.” I said, softly… it  was the only word. She was truly beautiful all the way down to the centre of her soul.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My heart stilled. My breathing slowed. My mind blocked the sounds of the world around us once I knew we were the only ones here. And I allowed the water, the spirits and his heart beat to become the rhythm of this moment.

He has been touched and blessed by our grandmother, he had listened to her which meant he had heard her.. Goosebumps weren’t something I experienced often, however my skin tinged as they came to form over me.

He has places trust into this path we were walking on. Each of us with our eyes set on what our choices were. And these choices brought us here today. Brought him to a place where he could look beyond the universe and see the light of our ancestors.

I felt like a thousand touches caressed, when his hands were so delicately placed, making me gasp a little. The rules ran through my thoughts, but the spirits sang of touch, of care, of the moment. Which in turn made me smile. (They were most definitely on his side here today.)

Eyes… Spirits his eyes… I couldn’t take mine away from them. It wasn’t from the stubbornness of not being the first to drop them. No… it was from the intrigue and excitement of what I saw in them. That was until my lips curled up, because knew those three small words came with mischief. The kind that would pull off my urge to throttle him. Not this time, my sight dropped to his lips, then slowly followed the line of moisture settling over his features.

The curve of his jaw.

The smooth skin of his face, with just a hint of growth starting to show.

His nose... which I had the urge to bite.

His forehead... with the glow of conversation with his spirits…

“Beautiful.” I replied back to him in a softly whispered voice for his ears only.

And I hoped he understood that it was not  just the exterior. I observed the son, the brother, the friend, the mentor, the supporter, the kind soul… the list was endless of what he succeeded in sharing.  When anyone viewed this man, they all witnessed something different, I was sure. It had become so clear to me.

This man… Embry Call had many, many, many different facets hidden in those eyes.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled, she was here, only here, in this moment with me. Even if I could mentally hear her reciting the rules in her head. But that was allowed. The rules were for our bubble, after all. And if that meant that, for once… I was the one straddling both worlds; I would do that  for her. To allow her these seconds… maybe even minutes of weightless, free-thinking and feeling… then that was exactly what I would do.

With one foot planted in this world of magic and Spirits… and her… And one in the rest of the world with my ears trained on the  trees for anything remotely human. To allow her that security… Everything else was hers. She was all I could see, all I could smell, all I could feel. My hands on her cheeks, her hands on mine. I knew the second I felt her touch; this moment would live forever in my mind, and I silently told the Spirits that f I died tomorrow… this was the moment I wanted for my paradise. If I was worthy of such a thing.

“Extraordinary.” I replied to her compliment. “For a woman, so many believe to race through life and never stop too just be… You always take me  to the most remarkable, magical places.” I turned to kiss her palm and brought my eyes back to hers immediately. I didn’t want to miss anything. “Will you promise me one thing?” I smiled. I knew how seriously she took promises, but I knew no matter where this path led… no matter what we were to each other at any point in our lives, she could keep this one.

I dropped my voice… so low and soft that not even the Spirits could hear. “Never stop surprising me.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The kiss he placed on my palm lingered with a heat that wasn’t something I felt before. This is where the unspoken outweighed the spoken, and it felt deeper.

I stilled, my eyes burning into his and I held my breathing. He didn’t ask for promises, and the fact that he knew  I would take death over a broken word. It had to be something worthy of this moment we were sharing with the universe.

“I…” tilting my head I pressed my lips together. “Hmm…” I let the words sit for a moment. And when I was sure I heard him correctly. I answered. “Never Stop Surprising You?” He wasn’t joking. “This is the promise you want to ask of me?”

As soon as I asked the question, I felt the wind pick up and pelt me on the back of my head.

The message clear. ‘Stop asking questions instead of answering.’ And sure, it was something I disliked doing. But by the Spirits, a woman needs to make sure she understands the importance of a promise before giving her answer.

I wanted to snap my teeth and tell them to back off. But with company. Even I knew Embry would get it. That was going too far for me.

•- Embry Call -•

I saw the moment in her eyes when she realised, I was about to ask her for a promise… I smiled. Because her first reaction wasn’t to run away before I could get the question out.

One corner of my top lip lifted in a smile. She was turning the words over in her head, looking  for any loopholes I might have weaved into the request… I didn’t blame her. I found loopholes in our rules all the time. That breeze picked up again and I wasn't sure if the message was for her or me. Was I asking too much?

“That’s all…” I smiled meaning it. I leaned in  until our noses and foreheads touched. “The occasional surprise…” I took in a long breath of her scent. “No… is always… will always be, an acceptable answer, Leah. Always.” It was the truth; it wouldn’t mean our path wavered. That one word wouldn’t drop a wall in front of  us telling us we had nowhere left to go. I knew that the same was true for her… I could say it to her, and she would hear it, and respect it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Closing my eyes, I took the moment as it was meant for us. The breeze blew strands of my hair into his face the scent of him filled my senses.

“I know.” I did. “I know I could say No, and that is it. You wouldn’t question it or me.” One of the things I knew about him for a  long while.

But this wasn’t a big ask. “I promise Embry, I promise Never to stop surprising you. However big or small it may be.” I could do that because he wasn’t asking me to change. He was asking me to continue being me.

My hands found his, and I laced our fingers together. Pulling back enough to glance over to the falls and then back to his deep dark eyes.

“Who knew you could ask for a promise, especially since neither of us believed in staying put long enough to ask or to be asked.” Spirits, was this the lesson for today?

To gain trust, you had to be willing to trust yourself? But we did, right? We had shown trust in one another time and time again. Before the night he had kissed me.

•- Embry Call -•

I knew that this was essentially me asking her to keep being herself. But it was so much more at the same time, those words, I promise … from her lips it meant a lot. I know what it cost her, the act of the promise itself; was a huge leap of trust that I didn’t take  lightly and the smile on my face undoubtedly showed her how deeply I understood that.

She’d given me her trust… so much trust over this entire journey. And today… it was even deeper. She had faith in me.

Those kinds of encounters she was talking about couldn’t compare to  a lifetime of history and everything it’s evolved into; she knew that too. But if she needed the heaviness of the moment lightened… well that was kind of my speciality. “Me.” I smiled and flicked my eyes to the falls, the Spirits dancing in the mist that continue the dry and  settle on our skin in an endless cycle of blessings. “Them…”

I chuckled now. “I would have… but you hesitated.” It wasn’t a true hesitation… she was giving it serious thought. I lightly bit the end of her nose and flashed her a broad smile.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm… “ He wasn’t wrong. “They know far more than they let on, because we have to make the choices to walk over the path.” Tilting my head, a little to look back at the water.  “Not that it would stop them from kicking my arse, if I choice one they weren’t full agreeing with.” My lips curled up into a smirk. Because on those paths too, they wouldn’t stop me. Those were where the lessons were learnt for life to grow.

Rolling my tongue over my teeth, I raised an eyebrow looking back to him. “I did not hesitated, Embry Call. I make sure I had all the information, before making my decision. There’s a difference in the two I’ll have you know, Wisearse.”

I moved out from between his arms, taking a few steps away and them towards the falls. “Embry…” Biting the inside of my cheek I lean onto the wooden fence. “You’ve never said anything about the fact that I see the spirits, that I talk to them.” Turning my head to catch sight of him. “Doesn’t it bother you?” I’d never thought of asking him the question. Mostly because the nights he stays with me, the spirits let me be. I’d only shared spaces like here, and the Royal basin with him and them together like this.

•- Embry Call -•

I let her go when she stepped away, curling my fingers against the fabric of her shirt; just to let her know that I would always keep her closer if I could. I respected the space she made between us and took a moment to appreciate the sight of her backdropped by those gorgeous  falls. The urge to take a picture fell over me… I was normally one to appreciate the moment does not ruin it by trying to freeze it in time. But right now I wanted to do both. Instead, I fixed the moment in my memory.

Her question made me exhale… I had a lot of thoughts on  this. “Your relationship with the Ancestors and Spirits is sacred, Leah. I don’t ever want to be a roadblock in that connection. But there are a few things that bother me about it.”

I moved closer. Not wanting there to be too much space between us that she would think these  things bother me were a deal breaker. “Maybe bother is the wrong word… but don’t understand… Like, why they don’t let you sleep? I know that it's time they use to teach you things… but never?” I shook my head… dropping my gaze for a second. “It seems cruel… and then… I started to think… maybe that’s why they joined our paths… because you seem to sleep when I’m with you. But we can’t spend every night together.”

I leaned on the fence now, within arm’s reach of her. “Keeping you from dreaming… and that night… in the bar, when #Jay and  #Kim were having their… crisis. It was like you were in pain… in actual physical pain and I don’t understand why they would do that to you.” I sighed heavily now. “You sacrifice everything for the pack, your family… the tribe. And they seem to take so much from you… I can’t see  any reason why… I can’t see how it helps the tribe, or you, or the Protectors. Maybe it isn’t for me to understand, but I wish I could.” I turned to catch her gaze and paused, falling a little deeper into the depths of her eyes. “I would give up all of my dreams just so you could have one night filled with the best dream you’ve ever had.”

I had so many dreamed-filled nights in my life… I could give up the rest of those just so she would understand the depts of dreaming. I had more than enough to hold onto.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

By the name of the Spirits, this I hadn’t seen coming. Questions sure, however such deep filled ones,  and the fact that I could tell he really had put some thought into it. I stood glancing at the water for a while. Thinking, listening, and understanding where Embry was coming from. Why he would see it the way he did, and how I could explain it.

This was my life, had I questioned it? Yes, I had, but had I pushed for it to change? No, never, not once I came back from being lost.

“It’s hard for me to put things into words. But let me try?”

I saw the bench behind us, nodding my head towards it. I turned, taking his hand in mine to guide us towards it, hoping to show him that anything he wanted to know, I would find a way to answer. But where should I start? Just by answering his questions maybe? Addressing the things, he was concerned with to start with? Yes.

Sittig down, I let his hand go, crossing my legs before me, I clasped my hands on my thigh.

“Sleep…” I started… “it’s… best if I start with the history of me and my relationship with them?” Nodding my head towards the mist still dancing in the air. “You know that I was born with this.” Moving my hand around me. “Some call it a sight, some a connection, and some call it a madness.” How many times had I heard those whispers…

“As a young kid, I didn’t see a difference in the way I spoke to them… and how I spoke with… say Rachel and Becca.” Finding the two names of those who were closest to me growing up. “They were all as real to me as the other. I learnt as I grew, not understanding the concept of what others saw. But that changed as my youth became older. When the world’s eyes weren’t so forgiving to a young girl with something that was seen as abnormal. I wanted to be like the others, I wanted Friends, I wanted what other girls had. So, I closed myself off. I stopped it all: they kept trying and I pushed back. Until…” My eyes moved to the water again. “Until my change. They no longer were asking to be let in, they kicked the doors down.”

My eyes searched his to see if this was something he had been aware of,  or if it was new information. “When I finally stopped fighting and I let them in… it was like opening the floodgates. I was drowning. Until the Great wolf stepped in. He held them back. Letting them step down to speak to me, one at a time… Until I could learn to do it for myself.” Shaking my head. “But, But by then I had grown to resent myself…” Chewing on the inside of my cheek thinking for a breath, and letting Embry soke in what was said.

“My body sleeps, my mind to a point does too. But it’s not the kind of sleep you would expect from someone I guess.” What was I trying to tell him? “The years I had closed myself off had to be pushed into a short space of time. I couldn’t do it in the waking day. Not with everything that was happening…. All our lives were turned upside down… Da…” I pressed my lips together looking back towards the waterfall again. I didn’t need to rehash that time out. It had been there for all to see, and Embry was there too. “I didn’t want an easy path, maybe as a punishment, maybe with the realisation, that I could have seen what had happened coming… if  only I hadn’t closed myself off trying to blend in? I could have saved our tribe’s young… maybe the pups wouldn’t have changed so young if I saw it all. They could have changed when it was their rightful time…. Maybe Da….” My throat tightened a little. But I pushed past it. “My bucket of sins had grown so deep, and I didn’t want to go unpunished for my mistakes.”

I didn’t dare pull my eyes away to the dancing spirits who begun to move closer to me, to cocoon me from myself. “Anyway. I gave up my sleep, my dreams so that I could learn. So, that I could gain the most powerful thing at my disposal… Knowledge… As time went on, I made the choice to continue that way. It’s not our spirits who are cruel. This was a choice I made.”

My mind moved back to the situation Embry, addressed next. #Jay and #Kim. How could I explain what took place there? “I have a responsibility to the tribe, to the pack, and to those who came before us. Listening, learning, and sharing…. That is what I was born to do. I for the longest time believed I was…. Born… to sacrifice.” This part I knew was not new to him. We’d spoken to it before. “What happened with a Warrior and their Imprint doesn’t affect me, until it is something I should have seen coming, something I could have helped or supported them with. I had missed something with those two… What occurred wasn’t a punishment on me. It was a visual of what they were feeling….” Was I explaining this correctly at all? “If I were to say to you. Kim was upset. She felt she was aging out past Jay… You may understand. You may have an idea of how she felt. But the spirits… they take a different route with me. Because I can’t see those things. To me age is nothing. Jay will be hers no matter what.” Rubbing my forehead because I knew I couldn’t find the words to explain my shortcoming. “Sometimes for me to understand the pain someone is going through… I need to feel it too.” Scoffing a little as I laughed at myself, shaking my head. How imperfectly perfect could I be? . “Stone hearts, cannot understand those with soft hearts.” Someone had once said that to me. and it came in handy now.

Finally, I turned myself to face him. “I don’t want you to give up on your dreams, Embry. I couldn’t take those away from you. I’m fine with how I am. This is all my choice.”

•- Embry Call -•

I knew that it was difficult for her the find words for her feelings… and this conversation was bound to be full of them. This was her relationship with the Spirits… her ancestors, our ancestors. It’s a pity we weren’t a little further from home or I might try and convince  that beautiful Spirit animal of hers to show me all of it. I followed her unquestioningly to the bench… she was really going to answer all of these questions? She knew she could always tell me… this is private… or I’m not ready to share and I would take her hand and walk back to the car just like we’d walked here.

I flinched when she used the word madness... I knew it was a word people had used, about her or to her face. I had never really understood because by the time I was old enough to have remembered to behaviour they were talking about; it was gone… I thought it was just small-town bullshit, the same as I had put up with for being the Makah kid on the Quileute Rez. But I wouldn’t interrupt her when she was sharing something so personal.

My heart broke for her… I knew what it felt like to want to fit in… but I had always had #Jake and #Quil. Other than those few short months when I had to stay away from them for their own safety. “Wait!” I couldn’t stop the breathy gasp… was that why she was the only woman that was called to protect the tribe? She had closed  them out and they made the change to find their way back in? No… they wouldn’t… they… Couldn’t… could they?

No… It couldn’t be. She heard them her whole life because she had always been destined to phase. But could the Spirits have predicted that the Cullens would  return to Forks when Leah was still just a child?

I knew her body rested, we could last on less sleep than a human, at least once the intense growth spurt and muscle building were over…

After the first change, I had slept almost an entire day to recover from the toll it had taken on my body… I remember the young pups… they had so much growing to do after phasing at just thirteen… for almost a year they slept every second they could. Leah had no problems keeping up with any of us… So you never could have called her sleep deprived… but it  just wasn’t the same. Or I suppose it wasn’t to me… But Leah… she had her own way of seeing the world. It was her life… no one else’s. But how can you imagine a world you didn't experience? Asking these questions, I supposed.

My heart wrenched again at the mention of her  father. Did she really think she could have changed things with the pups and Harry? The vampires in Seattle and coming after #BellaSwan was what caused the kids to phase and that phasing probably saved one of those kids lives. I know I had used the word cruel… but not implying that the Spirits were cruel… or… not meaning to anyway. But thinking about it now… it did seem like that was what I meant. Maybe somewhere deep down I did… but I never claimed to be perfect.

I chewed on my lip… this wasn’t the first time that I heard her refer  to herself as a sacrifice… she had used the word disposable… more than once. But the meaning was much the same. It still baffled me that the Spirits expected her to manage the relationships of the imprinted wolves… the division in the packs made that impossible. I knew  that there was nothing she could say to me that would make me feel okay with what I had seen that night in the basement of the HWH. I took in a long breath when she was done and let it out for even longer.

“I know you wouldn’t Leah… And I know it’s not an option. But the  simple fact that you would never want anyone to give up a single thing for you is exactly why; if it was possible to give you even one dream… and the cost was the rest of mine. It would be worth it. It has been far too long and far too late for someone to sacrifice just one  thing for you for no other reason than you deserve it. I have more than enough dreams to hold onto. But at the same time…” I chuckled. “I couldn’t force it on you. If you choose those nights with the great wolf… who am I to steal even one of those from you.”

I paused for a moment and processed what she’d told me. “I can’t tell you I understand what it was like to have people call you mad and all of the things people said to you. You know that I had my own issues with being judged, but it was always petty prejudices, it was never really about me… it was about ridiculous cultural divides, from people with small minds or people raised by the small-minded. By the time I heard the things people said; you were older, and I just assumed it was all idiotic rumours. I thought… I see this girl all the time at #Jake’s  house and she never does that… they have no idea what they’re talking about. I’m sure when you realised that most people didn’t see the world the way you did, it was… Scary. And I couldn’t guess what else… but now… knowing you can still see them like that…” I shook my  head and smiled. “It’s amazing… you can see the magic that makes us what we are… hear their songs…” I fell silent… What I wouldn’t give to hear those songs.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“That’s the thing… you don’t have to fully understand everything today… but by me trying to explain… maybe… a little of it may settle into your mind or in your heart….”

Telling your story is never an easy ride, laying your cards out on the table, opening yourself up to  the possibility that the person across from you wouldn’t fully grasp what you’re talking about. But I didn’t have that fear to face when it came to this man.

Embry had shown faith in me when he told me his story, and he had stumbled into part of mine in Seattle. Not once did he mention judgment. Today was no different, he listened, he didn’t offer solutions or give opinions. He told me what it looked like from his side of this bench we sat on.

“I’m not perfect… I can’t lie… sometimes I do just myself time to think about what used to be said.” Shaking my head because I was not proud of it.

“But… Someone you know really well once told me… Healing can be hard when your inner child only wants love, your teenage self wants revenge, and your present self just wants peace.” His mom had the best advice.

“I don’t expect anything from those people, I don’t hold it against them anymore either. I am a warrior of our ancestors it is my responsibility to protect and defend them. So… I choose peace over reliving the past…”

My eyes rested on the  water before us, watching the presence of light, reflecting off and on to the water falls.

She was listening to me and watching him whenever my eyes would find his face. She smiled as he spoke about giving me his dreams. And she made our chest feel so warm, that I had to place my hand on mine to give it a little rub.

‘He will make sure you do not go back to how you were. Balance… that is what had always been missing from you.’ 

Once again, she refused to acknowledge that she was right there with me. (Even if we both knew, her fighting me  would never have happened.)

“We all can hear them in our own ways, Embry. For some it’s a beautiful dream, for others it’s the emotions they feel from time to time. Or the sound in the air as the wind blows through.”

‘We could show him?’ She whispered. And I shook my head. Not here… not now… this wasn’t the place.

‘No…  I mean yes… that too… but sing…. Sing it to him?’ Biting the inside of my cheeks, I listened. To her, to them, to him…. Could I?

‘Yes…’ She whispered, as the spirits began to change the tune. I could hear it as clear as a summers day. He knew I could sing, he had heard me, but this was difficult. I’d never shared their words with another.

‘Because no one has asked you too before.’ She reminded me. And this was true too. No one had asked me to share their songs. Stories of our ancestors sure… but the music? Never.

I closed my eyes, calmed my breathing, the beating of my heart. Opening myself up to them. So, when I looked out to the water fall, I saw them like stars twinkling before me. As they gave me permission, I nodded my  head once in understanding. These were his learnings as much as they were mine. He’s stories and his history.

But the song they sang for him now. It wasn’t about the past, it was of finding peace within yourself, and the power that comes from it. “Forgive me if I make a mistake.” I whispered to them, knowing he could hear me too.

(Music Credit - Peace and Power by Joanne Shenandoah - https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ip56gP3mQzE&feature=share )

•- Embry Call -•

I nodded. “I’m starting to… understand. And thank you… I know that you know you don't owe me any answers. But you gave them to me anyway.” I lifted one of her hands from her lap and held it. I knew I was breaking a rule.. but there was no one here… we could make this place temporarily our bubble. Right?

I smiled wide… “Oh, the revenge line!” I laughed. “Of course, that was the line I focused on when I was a kid.” My gaze met hers. “You know how much she loves you, don’t you?” I know she wasn’t fond of that word, but she had used it first.

I laughed again, remembering the walk I had with Grandmother. “Or they talk in riddles.” I muttered… still intending for her to hear. 

I could tell by how still she was that she was having one of her silent conversations again… but with whom? Her wolf… the Spirits… the Great Wolf? Surely a presence like that would lie heavy in the air. Impossible to miss. Then I heard it.

It was her voice…. Like I had never heard it before. She was singing their songs to me… I hardly took a breath while I listened… she was… it was unearthly. Beautiful… more than I ever imagined. My eyes stayed on the misty falls, drifting from them to her and back the whole time she sang. I could hear them in her voice, the music of the crashing water in the background. I was speechless… I, Embry Call… was speechless. That never happened.

I crocked one finger under her chin and turned her face to mine, bringing her closer until our foreheads touched, and I rested my hand against her cheek. I was breaking all the rules now.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

After I finished, we sat there for I wasn’t sure how long. I squeezed his hand, and my eyes lifted to meet his, how did time bend and compress so greatly when I shared it with him? The question still to this day remained unanswered. 

We were both breaking those rules I had been so adamant in creating and placing for us, and our bubble. I closed my eyes now, breathing in this forest around me. It wasn’t home like the forests of La push but having his scent here with me made it somewhat familiar. 

“I think she called it the growth speech, so maybe don’t tell her your takeaway is the revenge part.” It was a tease, because I had taken all of her advice to heart, I had thought she was teaching me to keep the world out. But she wasn’t, she had tried to teach and guide me on how to survive with my head held high. 

Love… that word…. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand. And my breath stops. My battle with it was still raging, just not as strong as it had once been. 

“I know she does, she’s never stopped reminding me over the years.” My voice was steady with the years of practice, but my emotions were a riot uninterrupted to the most parts. I may not say the word, but it didn’t mean I didn’t feel the emotion toward those who cared for me. 

“Rule breakers…” I whispered… “They are all going out the window today.” Turning my head, I kissed his palm once.

Still unable to believe what I had done.

•- Embry Call -•

Her warm brown eyes found mine and I smiled. She wasn’t pulling away, she was here… all in… breaking all the rules right along with me. “I was a fifteen-year-old werewolf.” I chuckled and cringed at the words we used back then. “Maybe I was a little jaded. But I think that’s  understandable, right?”

I felt how that word had made Leah stiffen… but it was the only way that Mom would describe her relationship with Leah. “And she never will.” I chuckled. My grandfather had grown up in a very Catholic home… with very little affection. So, when he  made a home and a daughter of his own, he decided to break that cycle and filled his house with I love you’s, hugs, kisses, and music. My Mom raised me (And #Jake and #Quil) the same way.

The press of her lips to my palm made my heart skip. I caught my bottom lip, knowing she heard it. “Well, since the rule book is closed for a moment…” I leaned in and pressed my lips to her forehead. “We should make the most of it.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “That song…” I whispered and pressed my lips to hers… “Was the most beautiful thing I ever heard… and that is saying something coming from me.”

I didn’t thank her, I knew she wouldn’t like that. But there was no way I could ever let this moment pass without acknowledging it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I wanted to smack him upside the head. We were not werewolves, and I disliked the comparison with a passion. But this wasn’t the time for such a reaction.

“We were all jaded to an extent, I guess. No one can be blamed for how we reacted at that age. It wouldn’t be fair in the slightest.’ I knew he had it harder, making the choice to keep his mom out of the secret of our life hadn’t been an easy one to make. At least #TheKid and I had ma as our backup, our support system in the real world. As much as she tried to be there for Embry, as much as #Billy tried too, some battles were his to fight.

I raised my eyebrow when I heard his heart. It had become my favourite soundtrack, one that gave me calm times to think and be myself. It was also a telltale sign that Embry Call was about to do something which could cause his arse to hit the ground.  

But before I could react, my warrior stepped up to stop me. She showed me the moment we were in, she showed me the forest clear of scent and sounds, she showed me the emotion in which this moment was being lived in. So, I closed my eyes, letting him kiss me on my nose, and letting the warmth of his lips touching mine whelm me.

I kissed him back, letting my lips move with his for a few minutes before pulling back to meet his gaze. “We are breaking them all.” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re a bad influence, Embry Call.” Heat rushed up the side of my neck at the compliment. “It’s their song, I’m just a voice so that it can be heard.”  I told him.

•- Embry Call -•

I caught the way her pupils constricted at the word, but back then it was all we knew. “We all had our trials back then, all different… none can be compared or quantified. But we all made it.”

She returned my kiss, not just allowing me to kiss her, this entire time she was here with me. Living in this moment only. Her evolution was happening before my very eyes. Was mine as plain to see for her? “Thank you very much for noticing.” I teased, nipping at her lower lip. “I work hard at it.” I smile, my thumb sweeping against the corner of her mouth. “And we’re mostly bending them.”

My heart was still beating out of time, in a rhythm that couldn't be pinned down. The song still filled my head, only now I could hear it, in the sound of the water, the wind in the trees… even the birds were singing it. How had I missed this? It was everywhere. I closed my eyes, letting her be my eyes for a moment and keep watch to make sure our bubble remained only ours. I tilted my head up and just listened. “I can still hear it.” I whispered. “It's in everything.”  

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Reframing from snapping my teeth as he teased me, I stood in front of him with my hand placed over his chest.

“I see you….” Whispering the words to him? Or was it to his heart? Who really knew at this point.

I didn’t speak after that, it was like watching him play right now, the way he was concentrating. The glimmer in his Earth toned eyes, the way they crinkled when he smiled full heartedly. The way I could tell he wanted to love this time so deeply, that he wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting anything.

By the spirits…. My heart danced at his revelation… he could hear them? Was it just the sound of my voice and singing he was replaying? But something told me no… he had broken through.

“I’ve got you… take that leap… tell them… show them… you have come together finally.” It was happening… “Your heart and mind… they are opening up to hear the truth about our ancestors.” This was the evidence of his evolution.

I stepped into him; my hands moved to cup his face lifting my eyes over to the waterfall I saw then clearly. Dancing, singing, telling him the story again. This time aware that I wasn’t their voice.

“They are the sun and the moon, the water and the earth, they are the birds and the insects, they are the air we breathe. They are all around you, showing you the way, protecting you path, guiding you through whatever you call them in.”

My voice was low, soft, and welcoming. Speaking to the man whose eyes were closed but opened to this new reality all at once.

The light of the day was leaving us, telling me it was coming close to our time to leave. But I wasn’t going to rush him. I would wait until he heard everything he wanted.

= The End =

(Music: Peace and Power – Joanne Shenandoah)

[blazingtheway]

Meeting You Half Way!  - Storyline 13 – Together

•- Embry Call -•

"Good afternoon to you too!" Smiles.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Good morning. How did you sleep?” Smiles.

•- Embry Call -•

"Very well... very vivid dreams." Resting both hands on the curve of her back. "How about you?"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm… why does it sound pervy when you say vivid dreams? Asking for a friend and all.”  Smiling. “I slept really well.”

•- Embry Call -•

“I wouldn’t say Percy… but there was a lot of bare skin and removing of clothing involved.” I chuckled, feeling the weight and heat of her body on my chest.

I really… really enjoyed that sensation. “No… adventure to tell me about?” I teased.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Flipping my hair to the side and out of the way, my fingers traced his jawline. “I rest my case.” Leaning down to brush my lips over his. “But I need a little more information.”

Laughing slowly, I pressed my lips together and bit the inside of my cheeks. “Adventures..” Had he noticed my departure last night?

“Galvquodi adanvdo Vgalutsv.” I whispered. “The souls returned.” My eyes on his. “The spirits were busy. It was…. beautiful….”

•- Embry Call -•

My eyelids dropped as her fingers traced heat along my face. Simple touches from this woman still sank into the core of me. I moved one hand the brushed aside the neckline of her shirt, kissing her shoulder.

“Well, it started slow… like this.” I kissed a line across her shoulder. “And then clothing was removed very slowly, carefully… like unwrapping a gift…”

I smiled and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Beautiful.” I agreed.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm…” So, this called forth some sensations and a number of reactions all at once. From the stilling of my heart to the embers of heat pulsing underneath each one of his kisses.

“A … beautiful … gift?” Questioning softly while I dipped my head to the side. Giving him clear access to my skin.

“So… you’re… saying it was… appreciation of the gift?”

•- Embry Call -•

“The most beautiful gift.” I murmured again her skin. Lips trail back along her shoulder and up her neck, slowly, slowly making my eat to her ear. Meanwhile, my hand slipped underneath her shirt and stroked up the bare skin of her back. Pushing her shirt up. The other slide  down, gently squeezing her arse.

“One that should be appreciated daily, completely and utterly appreciated.” I whispered into her ear before taken her earlobe between my teeth. “Touched, kissers, tasted… pleased…”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Snapping my teeth, the second his hand reached my arse. No matter the roiling nerves in my stomach, I wasn’t going to let that move pass without a snap.

Even if his bite pulled a hum out of my lips. My body pressed down over his. I moved just enough to bring my hands free.

“This is a very detailed… dream.” Whispering with my breathy voice. Arching down into him, while my fingers combined his hair.

•- Embry Call -•

My blood heated at the snap of her teeth. Spirits! Why was that so sexy?

“I told you I have a great imagination.” I smiled and my body reacted to her. Telling her that, that was no need for imagination with the weight of her shifting on top of me. My fingers traced down the curve of her spine.

I closed my eye and breathed in the scent of her. A low him in my chest as she pressed herself into me in all the right places. It was impossible not to squeeze her arse again as she pressed those hips down.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm… I’m learning.”

His scent and body changed, calling deep within me and stirring the warrior inside of me to wake. With a push back, I reminded her this was my time and not hers.

Turning my head my lips caught his. Teeth trailing his lower lip and biting, with a teasing pull before the tip of my tongue soothed.

“Are you awake now or is this still a dream?” whispering with my eyes on his. The tip of my nose brushing his I kept my lips just a breath away from his.

•- Embry Call -•

There they were, to intense, hypotonic brown eyes. Mine locked on a caught the thoughts and emotions swimming behind them. Her teeth, her tongue… the way her nose just brushed mine… that perfectly mix of physicality and intimacy.

“Oh, I’m wide awake.” I said, breathy, low. My  eye fixed on hers. “But maybe a little of both, sometimes I feel like you must a dream and then I see the footprints you leave on the world.” I kissed the tip of that perfect nose. “You make me feel thing I never knew existed let alone to dream of you let me see the world in ways I never would have before. You’ve taught my things no one else could. You challenge me and hold me up.” I chuckled. “Even when you’re literally knocking me down. Isn’t that what dreaming is. The… unlikely… being bold… learning, adventuring, experiencing  things that  should impossible. Feeling thing you never felt before.” I lifted my hand from where it had been tracing a familiar, swooping pattern at the base of her spine.

I swept my thumb along the apple of her cheek. “You are awaking dream, Leah Clearwater. And I don’t want to fall  asleep.”

I never wanted to return to the blindness I’d lived in when I saw so much of everyone else and missed too much of her.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Even with his hand gone I could feel that swirling figure eights he mindlessly drew on my skin often. However, the act itself spoke so loudly that I was constantly left with a calm even in the midst of our bubble.

My eyes searched his, and my fingers stork his hair. It had  grown again. Sitting in that mid phase. It kept falling over his brow, needing to be pushed back. And it made me smile internally.

With the small monster in my stomach awake, my nerves waiting for the next touch, his works sank in.

“There… you go…” my lips brushed  the edge of his lips.. just…

“The art of conversation.” I didn’t need to say anything more.

There was No way I could put all my thoughts into words the way he did. I didn’t have the eloquence… or the words themselves.

My eyes spoke, but no one but him listened. my heart sang, but noon but him came close enough to feel it. And my silence showed the way, but that was too deafening for the world.. but him.

•- Embry Call -•

The sound of her just existing in this space we shared was like music to me. Her breath, her heart… the rustle of her clothing when she moved. The way she still in certain moments and then moved. Her finger moving through my hair, every touch and kiss and glance… she did  nothing with intention.

I smiled softly, that’s smile that was just hers. “We’ll, I can’t credit for that last part. Diane Warren wrote that for Aerosmith in 1998.” I teased my my voice  was delicate.

I pressed a light kiss to her lips. “I hear you, Trouble.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Eyes widened with the act of shock. “Stealing from the greats now? Isn’t that cheating?”

His smile, the one he kept for the bubble in full display, and it gave me a warmed sensation. “Even if we know that the art of conversation isn’t only about your words, it’s about  knowing the context and finding something to fit.” Muttering the words over his lips.

Pulling back a little so that I could take him in. The light from the window just shining and highlighting the edge of his cheek. Making me lean down and brush my lips to follow the line.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and kissed her nose as she pulled back. My lips still feeling the phantom brush of her lips on mine. “I suppose it was rather poetic wasn't it?”

I smiled. She raised herself up and looked down at me... Light on one side of her face.... Shadow on the other... She was beautiful. My fingers began their slow tracing against her spine again... My other hand on her cheek and sliding delicately over her ear and into her hair.

I closed my eyes and turned my head as her lips moved, breathing in the moment.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm…” My lips moved from the apples of his cheeks, across to his ear, and then down following the line of his jaw.

The growth of the night tickled my lips, to scent and taste of him entering my senses as I did the one thing, he always asked of me… love in the moment “Still real.” It was a whisper along his skin while I moved to kiss his neck.

This wasn’t line me. Well. Not the me before Embry Call at least.

•- Embry Call -•

A low hum escaped my throat and I arched, opening up all the space she could want. My fingers combed through her hair and, the silky strands sliding easily across calloused fingers.

"Still real." I whispered laying my hand flat on the small of her back and pressing her  Lightly against me. She was so warm, the hard planes of her stomach were solid against mine but the skin beneath my hand was soft, and so was her hair twisted between my fingers.

How could anyone be so soft and so strong all at once?

"You are an enigma, Leah Clearwater." I whispered. "A beautiful mystery."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The sounds he made effected without me needing to pin point them. The scent in and around us changed, deepened, growing, and flowing between the two. My lips curled up into a smile, and I bite his neck, kissing my way over to the shoulder. He used words like ‘enigma’, when  I used words like… well I didn’t. Words weren’t my go-to.

“Still a mystery?” Whispering against the lines of his muscles.

“Good, some walks are still in place.” But he was knocking them down, one at a time. Pushing that thought away, because I didn’t want to be lost in my mind. Not in our bubble.

•- Embry Call -•

Those teeth against my throat pulled a whimper from between my lips... She knew just how to send shivers down my spine.

“You’ll always be mysterious, Trouble.” I smiled my fingers trailing all the way to the ends of her hair. “No walls.” I breathed, arching into her a little. Feeling that lean, sexy body against me. I groaned softly again. Her breath on my skin took away mine. “Just hidden twists and turns… and I like it… there’s always something new to learn about you.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

His fingers in my hair sent shivers down my shine. Something so simple was felt deeply.

Biting the edge of his shoulder, I pushed back to sit up a little over him. Flipping my hair out of the way while I looked down into his earthy dark eyes.

“Twists and turns?” shifting myself with a circular motion of my hip I moved to meet him with just enough attention to his body.

“Why is this… you know….” Glancing around the living room before back down at him. “Feel this way?” Sitting up now the tips of my fingers trailed over his chest.

•- Embry Call -•

“Spirits.” I whispered. She really knew how to tease just enough that I couldn’t call her on it with showing how she affected me with the smallest of actions.

Then…. I groaned. “Trouble!” I smiled but there was an edge of warning. I was about to flip the two of and return favour.

“Does there’s need to an answer to that?” I asked with a cheek smile up at her. Move my hands to her hips. “We’re here… we both want to be… we’re both…” I lifted my hips a little. “Enjoying ourselves.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyebrow popped up with a smirk curling on my lips. Oh, I knew what I was doing, pushing just enough but not so much to send him hurtling over the edge.

“Dimples!” I replied. My nails scratching his skin but not leaving any marks behind.

The tip of my tongue rolling over my lips I bit into my cheek he was playing dirty too. Because the moment his hips came up there was a lightning strike from my core all th            e way up to my heart.

Shaking my head. “No… no answer needed.” I didn’t ask questions often. And needed answers even less. I read people.

•- Embry Call -•

I bit my lip, the barely-there bit of her fingernails electrified my skin. But I had gotten under her skin too, her heart and the fire in her eyes gave it away. My hand moved from her hips, down along her thighs, my fingers pressing firmly into the tight muscles. Fuck! She was so strong… and it was a hell of a turn on.

I smiled at her, she was here… only here, living in the moment. “Well then.” My hands went back to her hips, rocking her against the bulged in my jeans. “I think you should shut up and kiss me.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Tilting my head to the side, my hips rocked in a circle before pushing down to tease some more.

I knew he saw me; he’d left nowhere for me to hide. And to tell the truth, I didn’t want to either.

“So, bloody… demanding.” Snapping my teeth once hard. I lent down, hovering hairs breath away from his lips. “Make me.” I challenged, feeing the warmth of his breath on my skin.

•- Embry Call -•

Fuck! This woman knew exactly how drive me wild. Another low sound rumbled in my chest when she moved on top of me again.  That snap really meant business and caused a twitch in my boxer... The way we were pressed together I knew she felt it.

I moved fast on arm wrapping  around her a pinning her against me. My hip and shoulder launched up and over, following us off the couch and my free hand stopped us from hitting the floor. “Challenge accepted.” I growled in her ear and lowered her to the floor, pressing my chest into hers.

I tugged on her earlobe with my teeth, lifting her hands above head and holding them there with on hand. The other trail softly along the curve of her throat, over her collarbone and the soft swell of her breast. My lips trailing slowly along her jaw. Attacking all her senses at once.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Spirits!”

I saw the excitement in his eyes a split second before he rushed into action. The feel of him growing between the two of us had distracted me long enough for him to move.

“Embry!” Growling his name, my hair flipped over and so did our bodies entwined until my back was places gently to the ground.

My legs moved around his waist tightening a hold, but he had the upper hand. Each and every part of us touched and the best blossomed.

Snapping my teeth at him I shifted underneath him, my hips pushing up to find space to flip him. tugging on my arms and hands to find some leeway as my treacherous body betrays me. My heart skipped, the arousing scent filled the space between, and a hum escaped my lips at the bite to my ear.

•- Embry Call -•

I groaned... hearing my name on her lips, her hip pressing up against me. Fuck! Heat flooded my veins. I pinned her hips with mine, knowing that she was trying to gain the upper hand.

"Uhuh." I teased, squeezing her wrists. She would be free already if she really wanted to be. "I'll be needing that kiss first, Trouble." I whispered against her mouth my lips brushing hers as they moved.

Rocking  my hips against her and rolled my thumb of the peak starting the press through the fabric of her shirt and her bra. Her scent changed and moaned, more of my dropping against her live form. "Fuck!" I moaned... burying my face in the crook of her neck again. "You smell good to eat." I said, my voice was deep and a dragged the tip of my tongue along her pulse.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Why was this so much of a bloody turn on? No man has been capable of holding my attention, that was until him. And now things that should have cost him, his life. Made my stomach flip, my mouth go dry and my core pulse? How?

Turning my head to the side, moving my lips away so that he doesn’t have access to that kiss.

“You have to work for it, Dimples.”

The weight of his body laying over mine elevated my desire to feel even more of him. So, when he pressed down, I could feel the sensations of his thickness in Ann the right places.

Growling with a push of one side. I jerked us both a little before I was flat against the ground with my long legs wrapped around him, and my arms pulled over my head pressing into the cold ground.

The heat of our bodies, with the coldness of the floor was perfect.

•- Embry Call -•

The scent of her arousal thickened in the air around us and set my senses to fire. The fiction between our body was making my trousers more uncomfortable by the second. At the same time every touch and roll of my hips had sounds of pleasure slipping past my lips.

“With  pleasure.” My voice was a low rumble against her collarbone, my tongue dipping into the perfect curve there.

I palmed her breast again, and started to move my hand down her torso, worshipping every smooth muscle and mouth-watering groove. “I could spend hours… and hours…  working on getting… just… one… kiss.” I kissed her collarbone the made my way down, kissing a line between her breasts between words.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The sensation grew as my nipple peaked up like small mounds through the fabric of my bra and tee. Shivers ran down my spine and towards my toes at the sound of his moans. HIS MOANS! They were turning me on?

“Fuck!” I lost my trail of thoughts. What had I said? What was he  replying to? Something…. Nothing…. And everything all at once….

“Embry.” I tugged at my hands still pinned to the ground, and as much as I wanted to touch him, feel his skin, and his heat. The not being able to add to the experience of it all.

I arched my back up off  the ground while his mouth left a trail of fire where it past, just as his hands were doing too.

•- Embry Call -•

Her legs were wrapped so tightly around me that my trail of kisses could only go so far. My teeth found the sweet nub pressing through her shirt and grazed it, then the other.

“Maybe, Trouble.” I said huskily, pressing my lips to her jaw. “But… not until I get that kiss.” I my lips along her jaw, letting the heat of my breath fan across her skin as I slowly made my way towards her mouth.

Every inch of me screaming to just kiss her. The hand the wasn’t holding her wrists gripped me hip and pulled her against me as I pressed my hips down. My lips hovered just about hers, my teeth grazing her lower lip.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Maybe? Maybe? “In your dreams!” I snapped my teeth at him when he came closer, with the facts slowly seeping in from the fog he was creating around me.

Challenge… winning… no… kiss!!! My mind screamed when all I wanted was to kiss to lips of his. All I had to do was lift my head. Arch my back, shift my hips. But that would be giving into my temptation of him. And I was stronger than that.

“I will bite you so hard.” Managing to even my breathy voice out, however the end gave me away.

•- Embry Call -•

I moaned... it said have been the word FUCK but it was strangled and breathless. I tugged on her bottom lip a little harder after that snap.

"Don't underestimate a dream, beautiful." I flicked my tongue over the place I bite her. "Taking about my dream is what got us here remember?" I grazed my teeth along her jaw, so.... so carefully considering the contrition her body was making under me. The hardness in my jean throbbed. 

"Fuck!" I pressed her hands into the floor even harder, not because I want ed to restrain... I just knew it turned her  on.

"Promises, Promises, Trouble."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Spirits!” The word was a growl and the aftermath of his bite. Lightening shot it’s way from my lips to my core, making the pulse rattle me from the inside out.

He wasn’t taking any prisoners this evening, and this was evident from the welcome sign his growth making me arch and roll my hips up into him as much as I could with him laying over me.

The weight and the strength itself still existed me. The fact that Embry was someone who could take whatever I threw at him, without holding back in moments like this. It was mind blowing.

“You, and  your Dreams…” breathily, slow, and to the point. It took everything in me to ensure the words were clear. Even now the urge was there to hold on to some form of control over myself. But then I just let go.

•- Embry Call -•

“Fuck Leah!” I growled… I was losing grip on what my aim was here… my inside twisted the sounds the made and the scent of her made my mouth water for a taste. I buried my face into the creek of her neck, lips, teeth, and tongue finding her throbbing pulse.

It didn’t help my control. She had me locked to her with those powerful legs and… “Spirits!” She was fucking using them to roll against me and drive me to distraction.

I released her wrists so I could pull off my shirt. I slide my hands under her and lifted her, sitting back onto my heels. her legs wrapped around kept her securely on my lap as I griped the hem of her shirt and peeled it up. The need to feel her skin against mine was burning deep in my stomach. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to me moaning deeply at the contact.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Everything in me tightened as he lifted the both of us off the ground, my abdominal muscles tensing as my arms shot up and my shirt disappeared leaving me breathing hard while my hair came cascading down around my face and shoulders, and down my back.

His scent combined with  mine filled the the living with light bursting In through open windows. The cool wind blew on my heated skin, leaving my skin tingling with the different sensations surrounding us.

My nails traces across his back and shoulders, and then I found my hands wrapped around him, and moving into his hair. I kissed the side of his head. Whispering hesitantly into his ear.

“Still real.”

Not allowing my legs to let go of his waist, while I kept myself upright on his lap. There was no holding back now. There was no such thing as control, he could take anything and so could I. That was where I knew I could trust him and not hide.

Chest to chest, our flesh touching, the peaks of my hardened nipples pushing into him. I bite his earlobe and tug at it. With no sense of who was winning and who was not.

•- Embry Call -•

I was always a little hypnotised by the way her hair fell around her face and shoulder, and this time was no different.

I felt the touch of fingernails on fingernails on skin and my body couldn't help but quiver... waiting on that light sting. But not this time... she aways  what might just tip me over the line of my self-control.

"Still real." I whispered back and my hand travelled up her back, light as a feather touch because her own strength hell her body against mine now. I sighed with the relief of it... feeling her skin against mine was  exactly what I needed to ease the sexual passion to that deep intimacy I never thought possible until her.

And still, the press of her breasts against my chest set the bulge pressed just right between her legs throbbing. But it was enough the keep me from stripping off the  rest of her clothes and burying my face there instead... taking that taste I was so craving.

One hand continues its movement up over her shoulder, the curve of her neck.... her jaw. Cupping it and pulling her back enough to see her eyes. "Still Real." I said again and claimed  her lips in a long, deep kiss. All contest and teasing gone, just her and I and the cool breeze against my back.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

A sigh, a hum, a wave of desire all-consuming came to a head the moment his lips were on mine.

I closed my eyes and partied my lips, my fingers finding their way into his soft black hair. A small voice telling me it was frowning again, and then the thoughts fluttered away like the song of the spirits on the wind.

Tongues entwined, lips moving in partnership, my shoulders relaxed and my stomach alive with a million sensations letting fame know we were alive and living in this moment.

Pulling him closed (if that were even possible.) I kissed him  like he was kissing him. Like he was the air my lungs needed to keep me going.

His voice ringing in my ears saying the same words back to me.

•- Embry Call -•

There wasn’t enough space for words now, not enough air because I was only breathing in her, each inhale taken from her mouth as my lips danced on hers, the sounds we made were softer now but somehow MORE.

My thumb stroked her cheek as I kissed her, my hand moved up and her back. Her bare skin beneath my palm and silly hair against the back of my hand.

Her skin was hot, the same as mine... Something I should have grown accustomed to. But still, it electrified me.  My tongue moved with hers until the touch of the spirits blowing in through her window settled.

I wondered if the cool breeze was their way of reminding us... “Not yet.” I hadn't meant to say it... It was barely comprehensible between our ardent kisses.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Hearing him even through the mist of devotion we were lost in, it hit stop hard and fast. The walls of my control shot up, and I pulled back from him just enough to let him breath and take the time he needed.

Letting my legs unfold so to slip off his lap, I sat on my knees facing him.

Everything that I had let go of all, felt into place, and locked it down. Even if I needed a little time to let my body catch up to my mind.

“I didn’t mean… to push you too far.” Looking at him with concern. I’d always been so careful. Fuck! Even the cool  kiss of the spirits gave me indication to slow down. Or... had I stopped listening?

•- Embry Call -•

She was gone too fast; my body instantly reacted my reaching out the keep her close. But, of course, I would never make her… and I couldn’t if I wanted to.

“You didn’t.” I said when I saw the way she was looking at me and I smiled. I shuffled on my knees moving closer to cup  her cheek. I pressed a long kiss to her forehead and then rested my own against the same spot.

“I was just thinking out loud. About how when it seems like we might get carried away… we change direction.”  My hand found her waist and slid around her middle.

“I could do this  with you for days. Because we never push… we know one another too well. Any you’re the only person that made me feel like we have all the time in the world.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Closing my eyes and resting my hands on his arms. Letting my body catch up with the low and slow breaths I took. Counting myself down from the place I had allowed myself to be with him.

“Hmm..” His mind had kicked in its warning? But why hadn’t mine? Wasn’t I supposed to  be the one who knew how to control myself! If it had been any other men with me, I could have ended up hurting them? Was that even something I could do?

I knew the answer was of course, I could never take my loss of control for granted.

“I didn’t listen to your signs.”

•- Embry Call -•

I pulled back and tilted her face up to mine. "Leah, we both listened. You felt it... The change, the way everything slowed down... got a little deeper.

Like I said I was thinking out." I pressed a kiss to her lips softly. "You've never pushed... it's never something we did."

My thumb brushed over her cheek. "You always hear the things I never saw."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Tilting my head into his touch I nodded once. I had felt that. I always did, the way things evolved from one blink to another. Both normal for us, and both speaking to us in different languages and volumes.

Opening my eyes, I took him in. The way he was looking at me, making  me understand that we had this in hand.

I pulled back, pulling my hair up into a messy bun over my head, and reached out for my shirt to pull it back on.

“Yeah…. That’s true.” The cool air and time bringing me back to ground.

•- Embry Call -•

I groaned in complaint when she pulled her shirt back on and leaned in to kiss her now-exposed neck. "Don't put those walls up, Trouble." I whispered and reached out for her hand, not wanting to pull her back into a hug when she'd moved away for a reason...

"I mean I'll climb Them either way..." I smiled that smile that was only for her. "But there's no need... noting that happened here was wrong, not even a little bit."

I grabbed my own shirt then and pulled it one. "I'll go get us a drink." I stood up and headed to the kitchen, giving her a  moment, sensing that maybe she needed a little space.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The moment he disappeared into the kitchen, I pulled myself up in one graceful motion to my feet, walking off down the hallway to the bathroom. Splashing cold water over my face, my eyes met my reflection. He’d asked for the walls not to go up, but by that time they were  already up and locked in.

‘You’re doing fine. These things done stop overnight.’ My wolf whispered to me. ‘And he knows you are trying.’

But was ‘trying’, enough? I was always a doer… not a trier… this all really was still new to me.

•- Embry Call -•

I knew it was early, but I figured we deserved a real drink... It wasn't like we’d get tipsy on one anyway. So, I poured her a bourbon and a whiskey for me. I carried the drink back to the living room.

I set them down and connected my phone to her speakers and picked a song to I  I had something to focus my hearing in to give her as much privacy as I could.

(Music: Fall into Me (Acoustic) – Forest Blakk)

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Patting my face dry when the sound of the music came dancing down the hallway.

I could hear his heart beating slower now. The air has washed over the whole place adding the scent of the forest, with the crisp morning, and the sky, with whiskey, bourbon, and Embry in the mid too.

I shook my head slowing at myself. I’d let the thinking of everything get in my way.

‘It’s okay. You got this.’ My wolf smiles as we walked back into the living room to see him, and the two glasses set down.

•- Embry Call -•

I heard her approach and glanced over to the doorway. I leaned forward to pick up the glasses and extended her’s to her. I grinned at her. I know you’re enjoying the view al everything…” I teased. “But it would be a crime to let top shelf bourbon get warm.”

I could see her  internal battle going on. I wasn’t going to tell her it was okay or to stop thinking about it… it was her process to wade through. And she would do it in her way and her time.

But I could sit and drink with her while she did it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

And there he was, the teasing and grinning like nothing else happened, like my brain didn’t kick up the dust and take me on a mental run.

“I’d sure you meant to say…. The true crime would be if it’s served cold.” Standing there with my shoulder leaning on the wall, my head dropped forward before pushing my body off the wall to cross the room to the other side.

My eyes were on him the whole time as I took the glass from his hand and took a sip. “Thank you.” It was early, and I didn’t normally drink at this time. But it was much needed.

•- Embry Call -•

I just laughed… “Okay… well you’ve got me there. I should have gotten us beers for that line to land.” I leaned back against the couch cushions when she came and took a seat.

“No, no.” I help my glass of Jameson out for a toast. “Thank you… for always stocking the good at home and in the bar.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow while crossing my long legs underneath myself on the couch, I turned to face him and clinked our glasses.

“That’s your toast? Thanks for keeping the good crap on hand at home? You need to work on that award you have. You’re artful conversation is taking a hit if you ask me.”

I took another sip from the glass, swirling it in my hand to watch the amber liquid’s movement as the taste of it melted into my mouth.

•- Embry Call -•

I tugged on my jeans and shifted my position a little. “Until my brain gets dips on the blood flow again, you’ll have taken what you get.” I laughed and took a sip of the whiskey.

My dark brown gaze settled back on her again. The way she folded her legs under herself… her shoulder wasn’t set stiffly, she wasn’t exactly the most relaxed I’d ever seen her… but she wasn’t boxed in behind her walls. “How about…” I hold out my glass again. “To evolution, not change.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I’ve never been one to ask for anything, people aren’t willing to give.” Raising  eyebrow over the rim of my glass, our eyes met and I knew it. I knew he could see what the world always missed.

How high could he see them up? My hand moved in a small circle while thinking about the next toast.

“Evolution is a step up I guess.” This time I did willingly hold my glass up.

•- Embry Call -•

I took another sip and lay my fee arm across the back of the couch, just close enough to curl a strand of hair that had freed itself around my finger.

“I know.” I smiled. “And you know I’m think the same way.” I watched those deep thought swirl in his eye.

“It's been a hell of a journey, Clearwater... You and I.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyes moved back to the glass, and head curled towards his touch, the movement in my hair sending a shiver down my spine and heat up the sides of my neck.

“I know.” It was something I saw in him (after I really SAW him.) My gaze moved from the glass in my hand back to him.

“We have…” I agreed.

“For a journey neither of us foresaw, and somehow have managed to navigate.”  Especially when I didn’t play well with others…

•- Embry Call -•

The music still played in the background and the song changed and I smiled.

She was looking at me in that way that no one else ever did. seeing more than most people every chose to.

“No regrets.” I smiled at her. It wasn’t a question. I shifted closer and drape my arm across the back of te couch behind her just as Andy sang.

‘I know that my hearts a handful.’

(Music: Good In Me - Andy Grammar)

•- Leah Clearwater -•

It was a statement and not a question. I also knew it to be true. He moved close enough for me to place my free hand on his cheek, the tips of my fingers caressing the corner of his smile. The one he kept for me and me alone. The music gods knew how to make us speak when words were lost to me.

‘Even in the dark, somehow you see the good in me…’ It was so true.

•- Embry Call -•

I leaned into her, resting the glass on my knee. I took the way she lifted her hand as a sign that it was okay to move my arm from the back of the couch to around her shoulder. I kissed her fingers when she brought them to my lips.

I was rarely good at sitting in silence with  people. But with her… it just seemed so natural. I was about to say as much but I realise that would be missing the point entirely. So instead, I pressed a kiss to her temple and smiled.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Something came to life in my stomach, in a pure sense of the phrase. It wasn’t the fire hot passion that was all consuming as before. But this time it was a more intense sensation that had the underlying effect on my heart.

I closed my eyes when he kissed my temple, such a  sweet and innocent way to let me know he was here, with me. And he understood my needs.

Moving myself into his side, I found myself resting the side of my head to his. Listening the song as it played. It was so perfect for us. I could hear him in the song, and myself too.

•- Embry Call -•

Her heart skipped a little and it made me smile. She... well the only word for it was... melted against my side, fitting perfectly and my body automatically leaned into her room, my fingers drew patterns on her arm, and I rested my check against the top of her head.

The shuffle worked their magic like they always did when the song changed, and I closed my eyes. Because the music was saying all the things I would right now. It was the music that allowed me to be what she needed me to be right now.

(Music: In Case You Didn't Know - Brett Young )  

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The shuttle kicked in at the end of the song and my heart stilled. Two cords and I knew the song. Brett’s voice filled the silence in the living room, making my lips move without sound. Each word he sang hit on a new way, making my nerves come alive.

Being in Embry’s arms allowing myself to be held. It all meant something new to me now….I could feel the mixture of our scents, his warmth matching mine, his breathing too… Somehow Embry Call was not just sitting still, but I could feel the music allowed him to do so.

Biting the inside of my cheek I shifted out of his arms. But this time I wasn’t running off. Standing I took his glass off his knee, and mine setting them down on the coffee table. Tuning slowly to face him I held my hand out.

For the first time in my life. I was asking him with my eyes… ‘Dance with me?’ Because I could feel there was more here, and I wanted that more to be with him. But only if he wanted it too.

•- Embry Call -•

The change in the rhythm of her heart made me smile a little wider. This time when she moved away, I just knew that she wasn’t really going anywhere. Maybe it was that look in her eyes. My tongue moved across my lower lip, and I was already sitting forward when she set our  glasses down.

Then her hand came out to me, and I set my gaze on hers as i slide my hand into hers and stood up. Being still and silent with her had come easily… but being silent and moving with her… she knew that would be far more natural for me. Even now when I was the one  given her what she needed… she found a comfortable place in the middle.

I stood and stepped into close to, pressing a kiss to her forehead as I wrapped my arms around her and closed the space left between us. Then, I danced with her in her living room.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyes followed the lick of his lips, making something twist in the depths of my stomach opening a river of warmth to dance it’s way over me.

This was our evolution, part him and partly me. Somehow making choices that would be easy for the other without needing to ask. If I needed the peace to think and be, he needed the sounds, words and movements. So, wasn’t this perfect?

We moved into the other, my I kept his hand in mine and the other glided over the curve of his shoulder, feeling his toned muscles as I placed it on the back of his neck  leaning into the kiss, I closed my eyes hearing not just the song, but his heart beat too.

Pressing my lips into his neck I kissed him as our feet and bodies moved as one. This was all new and yet it felt like I had been here with him before.

My wolf sent a few images  to me. Showing the night I let my hair down, I went to his home, and we danced after too much of #Paul’s moonshine.

The choices of that night, lead me / us to this point. And now I knew, I had no reason to run. Together… that was the key… We could do this TOGETHER!

•- Embry Call -•

She moved in closer and pressed a kiss to my neck... so many times because she cases me there it set my nerves on fire, but right now it fanned low burning embers. I slow, deep intimacy. I tilted my head and closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of her breathing, the music, even shuffling of our bare feet on the floor, the sound of the cool breeze through the open window and, of course, the song.

Could there be a more perfect moment? This moment made me wonder if I'd ever truly felt living in the moment before now. I squeezed the hand still holding mine and moved the other higher up her back.

We swayed together to the music, hardly moving really, but it was flawlessly in sync.

A perfect moment.

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝔼ℕ𝔻

•- Let’s walk down Memory Lan - Playlist -•

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Been a minute.”  - Music: Speakers – Sam Hunt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEY3aHEPbJs&feature=share

•- Embry Call -•

“Or two...” - Music: Speakers – Sam Hunt – Body like a back road - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsRB2QLndPs&feature=share

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Now it’s really about memory lane.” - Music: Dan & Shay – All Nighter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2guNZrJu__Q

•- Embry Call -•

"Are you challenging me to a song-off trouble?" - Music: Brett Young – Here tonight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQtMqNAOnBM&feature=share

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Why would I do that? Because let’s face it, I’m winning.” - Music: Dan & Shay – 10,000 Hours - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMW4rNtKjQ4&feature=share

•- Embry Call -•

"Are you though?" Dammit! She was with that last one! - Music: Sam Hunt – Make you miss me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BegX8kPJpiY&feature=share

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Are you doubting me?” He was bringing out the big guns! Spirits! - Music: Sam Hunt – Take your time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqMJ_I012VU&feature=share

•- Embry Call -•

"Actually... I think you are the one doubting me right now, beautiful." - Music: Clinton Kane - I GUESS I'M IN LOVE - https://youtu.be/5LMqtzgXaRQ

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Shaking my head. “Maybe once… but never again, Dimples.” - Music: Chord Overstreet – Hold on - https://youtu.be/6XRZF7bvs9U

•- Embry Call -•

"Promise?" Smiles. - Music: Calum Scott - You Are The Reason - https://youtu.be/2Kiob5f9A1g

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Nodding once.  “I promise.” - Music: Forest Blakk - Fall Into Me (Acoustic) - https://youtu.be/ucfFUme7mec

•- Embry Call -•

"Me too, Trouble. Me too." - Music: Spencer Crandall - My Person - https://youtu.be/4g7uT6dr4Kg

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I know…. I know.” - Music: James TW – For You - https://youtu.be/dqArUR4px3I

•- Embry Call -•

“I see you.” - Music: Tyler Shaw - I See You - https://youtu.be/rxYBYmgR4qE

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Always”  - Music: Boyce Avenue  - Photograph - https://youtu.be/C60-zOz6ngY

•- Embry Call -•

“I know.” - Music: Andy Grammar – Good In Me - https://youtu.be/_o-ddWqnDDM

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Never question it.” - Music: Benny Blanco  - You (Acoustic) - https://youtu.be/5_4QK32GSEE

[blazingtheway]

What is it that makes it a Choice? - Leah Solo

❝ It’s our choices, that show what we truly are in our souls Leah, far more than our abilities. ❞ - The Great Wolf

The night had been quiet, and the runs were all in hand. Even with the rain washing away any scents we would have followed, the pack had managed to complete our tasks in record time. Of course, #Paul was adamant it was all his doing. He had shown the pups the best way to cover more land in lesser time. But we knew there was another driving force at work… and it was called Training.

The pups always got a little too excited at the opportunity to train on two legs, it was a good method to spend some of their built-up energy and to do something positive with it. The downside was that when the pups who weren’t on patrol with Paul and me heard about this, they would be pissed and sulk until they had a session too.

“Don’t let your left flank drop so low pup.” I stood behind him, correcting his stand and lifting his elbow.

‘But I’m right-handed Leah, and that’s hitting the spot each time.’ He wasn’t arguing with me, just trying to understand the reason behind my correction.

“The point tonight isn’t to strengthen the side that you lead with, it’s to make sure you have no holes in your defence.” Stepping around him, I tapped his sparring partner out and I could feel all the eyes in the clearing on us. Even #Paul had stopped what he was doing to watch. “Come at me.”

Cracking my neck from side to side, I grounded my feet watching him. Smelling the air around us, and then considered how the pup liked to move. They all had their own tells, the way they shifted on their feet ( two or four legs ), and some even had a way they tried to adjust, but it was a tell too. Especially for someone like me who watched everything and everyone.

He came straight on, upper cut, left foot loose and right hand hard. It didn’t take much from me, I dug in my right foot, taking a far push back of my upper body missing his hand. Lowering my shoulders to get two soft punches into his ribs where he had left himself open.

“There, right there you left your left side open. Hoping that your right hand would impact. But you missed and if I wanted it, your arse would be on the ground. The key is not to leave any part of you defenceless. And as you know, your right is stronger. Others can see it too.” Taking a step back I let his partner come back into place.

‘We sometimes forget that our weakness is there, because we only see the strength the Spirits have blessed us with.’ #Paul’s voice rang in the air. ‘But if we give the weaker parts of us, as much attention we are just making it harder on the other person to harm us.’ He wasn’t being cocky as he spoke.

#Paul took as much pride in training the pups as I did. It was one of the things he enjoyed doing more than the mentoring part. In this way we were alike ( not that I would admit it to him or anyone else ). We left the hand holding to #Jake, #Sam and the others.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

When we were done, #Paul and I told the pups to make half a run and that the two of us would cover the rest and then they could call it a night.

‘Do you want to swap out with Jay later in the week? We can do the same with the other pups to stop them from crying to Sam and Jake?’ #Paul asked kicking off his trainers and unbuttoning his shorts. I told him I was up for it. That I’d not swap out and just do a double so that #Jared and #Brady could get some down time.

I removed my trainers and t shirt, folding and setting them into the small locker behind the fallen log we used to sit on in the clearing as we spoke. ‘Are you okay Leah?’ The question was surprising, and my head shot back over my shoulder at him.

“Really? We do that now?” I teased him making him throw a trainer at me, ducking the blow easily, I let the shoe fly off into the forest.

‘Shit Lee, Rach will kill me if I don’t come back with all my clothes and shoes tonight.’ But the grin slowly spreading across his face told me he liked those fights with his wife.

“Nope, I don’t need to know about the kinky, freaky crap you get on with.” I told him standing in the clearing in my sports bra and underwear. “Get a move on, the sooner you are done, the longer you have with your wife.” And he was gone. Once again, I’d managed to deflect a question without even needing to answer it. “It’s a skill Leah.”

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

The night was over, and my work was done, the hand off to the next team completed and still I wasn’t ready to call it. My wolf had been silent, giving me the time to think, to understand and to fight with myself without any interjection. And I was grateful to her.

When we had nowhere else to run, we slowed at the edge of the far cliffs facing the ocean on one side and home on the other. With the sun rising over the cusp of the horizon. We closed our eyes and let ourselves be at peace with the land that called our name, and the ocean who told us we belonged.

The air surrounding me changed it’s direction, the scent sweeter but now there was sage mixed with the salt from the sea. I knew I was no longer alone.

“You didn’t call upon me?” The spirits hadn’t called upon me for a few days now, to the point that feeling him here tonight wasn’t a shock, but it was unexpected.

‘We thought you could do with a little time, considering.’

Considering?

That was one way to put it.

My mind was full of questions, I wasn’t sure who I was now, and then again, I knew a hundred percent that Leah Clearwater had not change deep down inside. ( Or had I? ). It was a lot to process all at once. But the one time I needed them to answer something for me. They went radio silent on me.

“Was this the doing of you or the Spirits?” I asked him without looking away from the sun rising over the side of the cliffs.

‘Me? When have you ever listened to me without thinking it over first?’ #TheGreatWolf kept his voice low and calm, it was the same as when he spoke to me when I was a child. ‘What did they say to you?’ The winds wrapped around me and then moved away.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I pulled my eyebrows together thinking about that night and how much of a hand the spirits had in what took place. “They told me to stop him, then they made me feel what it would be like if I didn’t.”

‘So, it was your choice? Your actions? And your decision to make?’ He asked knowing the answer.

“It was… my… choice.” Spirits… It was my choice to make, and I was the one who made it.

‘It would have been the same for Embry too, Leah, he would have been shown a path sure. Vtla asuyedv utseli gotlvdi. ( But the choice was his to make ). It’s our choices, that show what we truly are in our souls Leah, far more than our abilities.’

“But I…” I wasn’t going to finish that sentence because the truth was, I had made my choice.

‘It’s not a bad thing to allow another person into those tall walls you have built around you. It’s time to have some faith in another soul. It’s not wrong to want some form of happiness. You are human Leah, just one that is born for bigger things than those who walk beside you.’ #TheGreatWolf wasn’t pushing, he never did, he was guiding my thoughts to show me all the things I never wanted to see.

“I had rules Equa adadoda ( Great father ), rules that were set in place to stop me from harming those around me.” And they had worked for me over the years.

‘And then a soul so new and innocent in the world of the spirits, saw that his path was crossed with yours. You knew it too; however, you weren’t ready to see it. And he was. Embry is a soul of a Warrior who will balance you. And he has done so already. He will not change you, and nor will you him. However, sometimes we all need to have someone who will test our boundaries, and challenge our rules, and will question if what we are doing is still right. And I believe you have already set rules which he has not only agreed to, he has supplemented too? Doesn’t that tell you something?’ He was chuckling.

#TheGreatWolf. The true warrior. The teacher of all Spirit Warriors was chuckling at the fact that I, Leah Clearwater had set rules on the first night I had broken a major rule with the packs Third-in-command.

‘This is a choice that Embry and you have made, and we the spirits have agreed that we will not interfere in.’

I turned to look at the spirit of #TheGreatWolf, the dark blue outline of his wolf towered mind even though we both sat side by side. And I knew now that freedom of choice was the only thing, I fought with them about. And that was a choice that even Embry had spoke about that night. He wanted it to be our decision not one that was made for us.

“The path is set.” My voice was a whisper as I let the words dance on the air towards the Spirits. No one could tell where this path would lead, but for the first time in my life I was embarking on it without knowing the outcome or the destination.

( Music: Superman - Rachel Platten )

[blazingtheway]

The First Steps on a New Path - Storyline 10 – Together ( Part Two )

Continuing on From.....

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled watching them... #MrsFranco was a very affectionate woman, but Leah seemed to me handling it quite well... Her respect for her elders always won out.

It was insane... But even from where I stood, watching Leah’s finger move  across the keys in the space between her and #Tony’s mom... My tongue moved over my lips. “Oh hell...” I whispered soft enough that no one would hear... And hopefully, Leah didn't either.

I wasn't sure how much longer I could appeal like I wasn't staring, so I tucked the stack of music under my arm and began to browse the shop slowly. My focus pulling me back to the wall of guitars.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Aww… Bellissima ( Beautiful)”

#Tony’s mom was easy to place, or it was that she was so tolerating of those who didn’t know their arse from their tits when it came to playing an instrument.

She clapped her hands. “You must learn to play… something… anything… music speaks to you.” She turned her head to find Embry had stepped away.

‘He is a good boy.’ She looked lost in her thoughts as she said it.

But I was saved by the door, so didn’t need to answer. I thanked her for the short lesson, and then she stood to go help the man who came in.

When I turned to look in his direction, something warmed in my chest at how he stood amongst the guitars. He always found his way back to them. Even if I wished I could hear him play the piano once again.

•- Embry Call -•

I stood there with my fingers tapping against my thigh. Sometimes you just couldn't help it, the music would just want out. And you had to give it something. I glance over my shoulder before I made my way toward her again.

“I told you  this place was magic.” I smiled at her. “It doesn't matter if you play or sing. Or none of the above... It's a little slice of heaven.” I sat next to her on the bench, daring to let my bicep brush against her. “You’ll have to let me play for you soon. On purpose this time.” I chuckled at the memory of her mom's living room and her confession that she found me in Seattle too.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I caught it all, the way his fingers dancing on this tights, the way he was lost in this slice of heaven for someone like him… and even me.

'Music speaks to you...'

‘𝕄𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕔 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦…’

#MrsFranco’s words still rang in my ears. If only she knew how much music had helped me in my life.

“You aren’t wrong. This place is something else.” How could anyone not become lost in here.

My hands were stroking the keys but not pressing down on them now. The bush of his arm stilled me and I glanced up at him out the side of my eye.

“Hmm…”  hitting my knee into his.  Okay so no one saw it so it wasn’t breaking any rules.

“I don’t think you ever will, the only time I hear you playing is when I come on you be chance. When neither of us is expecting it.”

The first time I heard him playing the piano, had been at his mom’s home. And Seattle in the ballroom. And both times he didn’t know I was listening or watching.

“You know there is a keyboard at #HwH. I know it’s not the same…” but it was the only other place with keys for him to hit.

•- Embry Call -•

"Sometimes even when mom is having a terrible day I'll take her here. To be around all of this and #MrsFranco. I always make sure that #Tony is here she can sit in the back and talk music with her friend."

I chuckled, my stomach flipping over when she knocked her kneed in mine. "I have a feeling that you'll keep finding me when I least expect you to." I smiled bumper her knee back... I mean she started it. "But I would like to play for you on purpose at least once... Even if it's a  keyboard." I let my fingers kiss the keys without pressing down.

"I have been thinking about getting a keyboard... I've been playing a lot more lately for Mom." I pushed aside the dark feeling that rose up when I remembered all the time I told her no when she asked me to play, for no real reason at all. "It makes me miss it... but even and upright takes up so much space... not to mention impossible to hide... A keyboard would really be the closest I could afford."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

For some reason hearing that made my chest tighten and then correct itself. Knowing that #MsC had a place she liked to come to, where someone like #MrsFranco took the time to spend with her. It was a good feeling. Then again, Embry’s mom was like him in some ways. People couldn’t help but be drawn in by them.

“It’s not like you’ve not been doing the same thing. When I least expect it too.” My brown eyes fell to he keys, seeing how his fingers just sat over then, knowing exactly when, where, and how to play. I wanted to reach out, I saw myself doing it. Picking up my hand, slowly placing it over his, and then gently pressing down until the note sounded. Closing my eyes, I shook that image away. I wouldn’t do that. I couldn’t.

Biting the inside of my cheeks as the plan was there, I just needed form the words. “Why don’t you take the one from the bar? If anyone asks you about it, you can say you are taking care of it for #HwH. As you are also the MC for the open mic, no one would think twice.”

‘The world came out to watch, and I kept my eyes down until I hear your song.’

The words came to life in my mind, I didn’t know where they came from, just that they were there. These words didn't below to a song I knew, or did they? I pushed them to the back down.

•- Embry Call -•

"Finding each other has become a hidden talent of ours hasn't it." I chuckled... Hidden from everyone other than her and me. I smiled when she pressed my fingers down on the keys. I played a few well-matched notes, her hand still resting on mine.

I looked at her, my fingers still moving. "Really? Not a bad idea." I smiled. "I might need to lock my door though. That's a valuable machine." It wasn't like the Pups didn't all know where we kept a key hidden for whenever #Claire was over. I wasn't sure where the notes I played were coming from, but they kept coming.

"Thank you,  I would like that."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm….”

I wanted to tell him it was a part of being his Beta. That there was always an energy pulling me towards him and the others to protect. But that would be partly a lie. Sure, there was that need in me. But this… thing with Embry Call. It wasn’t that same thing. At first yes, but when it evolved… I wasn’t certain of that.

My hand remained over his as he pushed gently on a few more keys, my eyes following every one of them. I only broke my gaze away after he spoke.

“I know you and the pups will respect and take care of it.”

I saw how they treated one another, but when it came to the Instruments they could be as fragile as needed. “The door locking thing.” I made a face; he knew what I thought of it.

I took my hand back, straightening to stand. “You are welcome.” I looked towards the back-room door, sounds of footsteps becoming closer.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled when she didn't try and explain it away as the duty of a Beta, or looking out for Mom. She may not have said anything about this newly discover habit of finding one another in our dark moments, but that fact alone says volumes... to me at least.

"I doubt the pups even know that I used to play at all..." I furrowed my brow as I thought back. It was something I had let just gradually fade into my friend's memories... the age gap with the younger pups... no... they wouldn't have ever even heard about it. I wasn't really sure how that made e feel.

Then the heat of her presence was gone, her hand lifting from mine... "Hmm..." I looked up at her, letting her words sink in. "Oh... I think the unlocked door is more symbolic than anything now." I laughed. "They all know that they are welcome... just to chill it a little when #Bear stays."

I saw her eyes flit to the door, and I spoke quietly. "It's just #Tony. They live upstairs." I  whispered, the familiar scent making itself known.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Tilting my head, my eyes focused on him even if the rest of my senses were picking up on the surroundings.

I didn’t know how this revelation made me feel. That all this time I had missed so much about him. That he was one of those people who couldn’t keep anything to themselves. His mind on the runs before I locked down was a mess of memories and emotions. And this. Something that was in his blood, in his soul. I didn’t know or pay attention to.

‘If it’s not to do with pack business, I don’t give a crap.’ I’d once told #Jake.

Another thing to throw into my bucket of sin. Fuck. Before long, I would need a quarry to hold my sins.

‘Mom said you were here….’ He stopped dead in his way over as seeing me. ‘Leah!’ His voice went up an opted for two. ‘Hey… You are Here?!?’ My eyebrows pulled together. “Is that a statement or a question? Do you need your eyes tested?”

His ears and face went red. ‘Yeah I’m not dreaming.’ He rubbed his neck awkwardly. His eyes shifting from me to the ground.

I couldn’t help messing with him. “I’m flattered Tony. I didn’t know… you were dreaming of me.” I grin putting my mask fully in place again.

•- Embry Call -•

#Tony had that always happy look on his face. And then it changed to a little panicked when he saw Leah. I stopped myself from chuckling. He was always terrified around good-looking girls... and Leah... She was beyond beautiful.

 I rolled  my eyes at Leah. She was a tease... and I liked it far too much.

"Leah's mom needed so errands run in town. You know that I can't come to Port without stopping by." I got up from the piano and gave #Tony a hug. "How have you been?" I  asked... Wanting to ask him about #Jessica... He knew that we knew what we did. But it would embarrass him, even more, to be asked in front of Leah.

'You know me... I'm never one to complain. How is your mom doing?'

•- Leah Clearwater -•

#Tony hugged Embry back, but his eyes kept moving away from me and then back. As though he thought I would disappear if he didn’t lay his eyes on me. Giving him a wink, I slowly backed away from where the two of them were talking. Of course, with my hearing there was no way not to hear what they were saying. But at least it gave #Tony the illusion of some privacy.

‘Dude, you could have dropped me a text and warned me.’ I heard him whisper right after asking after #MsC. And that was my moment to turn my back on them and head towards the door.

‘Going so soon?’ I heard #MrsFranco’s voice, turning towards it I saw her coming back out from the back, handing a bag to the man she had been serving before saying her good byes.

“I thought I should give Call and Tony some time to catch up. There’s a tea room a few doors up.” I said pointing to the door, and she shook her head.

‘If it’s tea you want bel bambino ( beautiful child ) then you should stop by Herbal Harmony, our Jackie there makes some of the best blends.’ Seeing me smirk she raised her eyebrows. ‘You know her?’ I nodded.

“I’ve just come from there.” I told her and she clapped her hands. Telling me she has some tea in the back I should try. Tugging me by my elbow to follow her.

•- Embry Call -•

"Mom is doing good, everything is stable for now... She feels better and she's in good spirits." I said smiling at him.

'And you?' He looked behind me, seeing that Leah was distracted by his Mom. I nodded and gave him a smile that made  him tilt his head he knew this time I was trying to fake the positivity. "I've been a lot better lately... Feeling a little more... in control... of things." I chuckled. #Tony knew that the bills had been piling up... but no more than  anyone else, no one knew how bad it was. Just that it was stressful. But it was common sense to know that a prolonged illness like this wasn't cheap.

'I'm guessing you had a little help with that?' He nodded to Leah.

"A lot actually." I smiled. He didn't ask specifics he knew that I wasn't good at talking money. It was something I got from my Mom. She was always determined to raise me without any help... not financially anyway, she would happily take the help offered by  the father figures that had stepped up for me... for the guy's moms who watched me after school that helped out when she had to work.

#Tony shuffled from foot to foot. 'Hey... um... can I ask you something about that girl I met in La  Push?'

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I stepped into the back room. The door was situated behind the counter, hiding the homely atmosphere that you felt the moment you steeped foot out of the shop.

I recalled Embry saying that they lived upstairs, and now seeing the way the stock area and a small, homely corner  was dedicated to a little kitchenette. If I had to guess, it was to keep her in supply of tea and easy lunch preparation without constantly needing to go upstairs again.

‘Have a seat, it won’t take me long to have the tea ready.’ She told me and put a kettle on the electric campfire stove to boil some water.

“I’m happy to help with that.” I told her still stood behind her, now with my hands pushed into the pockets of my jacket.

‘No, no. I like making the tea. It’s a little meditation for me. And Jackie always says—’ I said it for her. “Tea will give you what you put into it. Don’t rush the process. Let it come to life in its own time.”

She laughed sweetly nodding her head. ‘Yes. And it’s true you know.’

“I know.” I moved my feet out a little, grounding myself.

‘Will you sit. I’m worried you will bang your head.’ She brought out a cake and then some plates

The ceiling was low back here, but that was why I’d why don’t my stance to bring my head down a little. But now I listened to her.

‘How long have you and Embry been friends?’ She asked. But I was surprised at the question. However, didn’t let it show on my face.

“I’ve known him all his life.” I replied. she tutted at me and shook her head.

‘Not the question I asked.’ I thought back to the question.

“Hmm. I guess it wasn’t the question.” I didn’t know the answer.

‘And you are skilled in alluding.’

•- Embry Call -•

I quietly explained to #Tony that Leah's cousin might be interested in someone else. And he told he was getting that feeling from her texts. She had casually mentioned that she was only looking for friends right now and her goal was work  and college.

"If it makes you feel any better when #Jess says she'd like to be friends she really means it." I squeezed his shoulder as he started tidying shelves that were already perfectly neat.

'They all say that 'Bry. But she's sweet... it's nice talking to her... but if she likes someone else, eventually she'll stop replying.' He wasn't mad or bitter, he was just resigned to it and with his horrible taste in girlfriends, there really wasn't any reason to think otherwise.

"How about you give her the benefit of the doubt, Ton... You've never met anyone like #JessicaClearwater. Just... try the friend's thing. You won't regret it." I raised my brows and smiled.

'Fine... but when she breaks my  heart you better show up.' He slapped my arm and winced a little. Flexing his fingers when he thought I wasn't looking.

"I always do." I grinned and leaned on the shelf that he had rearranged.

'What do you think they are talking about in there?' he pointed to the door behind the counter.

"That obvious." I laughed. "Me!" At the same time as he said 'You.' and laughed with me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

A frown grew on my forehead as I tried not to listen to the conversation taking place out there. I had always been good at blocking out voices. But when it was just three voices in my vicinity. It was harder. So, I turned my attention to #MrsFranco poured the tea into cups.

‘Are you okay?’ She smiled as She set one on the table before me.

“Yes, sorry. Just a little distracted. I’m here now.” The cup was followed closely by a slice of cake. Then she set down some lemon slices and honey making me sit back and smile.

“Jackie would be proud of you.” I told her, making her smile again, wider before she took a seat next to me.

‘She takes such care when blending these for us. It would be a shame to spoil them in the last step.’ I couldn’t agree more. I had seen the difference these teas could make if they were drunk in the correct way.

‘So...’ she looked to the table and then jumped up rushing off. ‘I’ve made tea.’ She called out the door, but before coming back she grabbed a few forks from the side.

“You should eat some cake before those two get here.” Nodding my chin to the door.

‘They are good boys, however…’ She was laughing softly. ‘They Can eat.’

She cut another slice of cake into a small plate and put it in front of herself.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at #MrsFranco when she called to us that tea was ready... and I knew that that also meant CAKE. She never served tea without a slice of cake.

"Thank you. We'll be right in." I called back to her. I waited with #Tony while he rang  up the last customer in the store, and we headed into the back room where Tony adjusted the screen with the store cameras so he could watch it from the table.

We took seats and #Lucille poured us a cup of tea, in her proper, tiny tea cups and slid us each a lemon slice. "So ladies... did were miss all the gossip?" I look between them both and smiled that smile of mine... the normal one, not the one reserved just for Leah.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The small cup sat in its saucer, I could have stepped into Ma’s kind and thought how pleasant she would find it to have afternoon tea and cake like this with a friend.

My eyes moved sideways to the door as the two men walked in. Embry towering over #Tony, and he still didn’t  look out of place.

I didn’t know it, but the both of us rolled our eyes at him. And spoke at the same time.

‘Ladies do not gossip.’

“We aren’t gossiping!”

Mine with a little growl in it and a snap too.

‘Ladies like us, we discuss matters.’

I was smirking as the two of us now sipped our tea. “I like the way you think.”

Telling her as I took another sip, noting the smile on his face. And I knew, it wasn’t the one I had become accustomed to.

‘I was just wondering why you hadn’t brought this Bella Donna ( beautiful woman ) to see me before?’

Setting the cut down, I picked up the fork. “Because he was scared you would like me better.” I said without missing a best. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

•- Embry Call -•

My eyebrows lifted at the snap in Leah's words. My stomach flipped... it really shouldn't have that effect on me... but it did.

#Tony and I both grinned at the way they bounced off of one another.

It took all my self-control to slice off the corner of the cake with the sie on my fork and take a bite, instead of picking it up in my hand and taking a mouthful. I laughed at #Leah and nodded. I pointed my fork at her.

"You are exactly right! What can I say? I like to be the  centre of attention." I chuckled. "And I'm good at sharing the special ladies in my life." I winked at #Lucille and she gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

'Don't try that charm on me, young man! I changed your diapers.' and then she  winked back and #Tony covered his mouth and teased me with a 'Buuuuuuurn!'

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The rim of the cup to my lips, and they curled up on the sides. The way she saw Embry and that he was doing. I used to think women were lost to hun when he flashed that smile and those dimples at them.

“Oh. I really like you  #MrsFranco. And I don’t like many people.” I  was honest with her and from the way she winked at me now, I could tell she appreciated the frankness.

‘You can most definitely call me  Lucille. A mind like yours young lady is always welcome here.’ She took a bite of her cake.

“Oh, I will take you up on it. I mean  I need the dirt on these two.” Pointing my chin at the two men.

‘Hey, what did I do?’ But #Tony was smiling from ear to ear.

“I like to be prepared, just in case you slip up Ton.” When I winked at him. His face and ears shone a bright red.

•- Embry Call -•

I watched Leah grin at Lucille I knew it was going to happen so I strengthened and shook my head at them. "Now you ladies are just ganging up on me." I teased to stop my heart from skipping a beat at the sight of her smile.

"Guilty by association #Ton." I teased him. "That's what happens when we hang out with the bad boys... you know that."

#Tony just rolled his eyes and laughed. #Lucille leaned across the table and cupped my chin squeezing my face until my lips  pucker. 'Yes, yes bambino we all know how big and scary you are.' She teased like she speaking to a baby, me and released my face. But not before I licked her hand and she exclaimed more Italian than I could understand.

'Somethings never change!" she sighed and got up to wash her hands.

'When I pull that on her she slaps me across the back of my head!' #Tony protested.

I shrugged, "She likes me better!" And things deteriorated into a back and forth about whose mother loved who most like we were ten years old again.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I sat back drinking my tea and eating the cake on my small plate. Watching and witnessing this dynamic relationship these three had.

It was clear from the way they fell into a natural rhythm, that this was their norm. And they were letting me view it from the side-lines. At some stage the laughter of the three of them, and the things they were teasing each other with, had me smirking, rolling my eyes and biting the inside of my cheeks all at once.

 #Lucille refilled my cup as she sat down a little breathless.  ‘I love you both the same amount.’ She declared and then kissed #Tony on his forehead. ‘But you are the light of my life.’

I shifted in my seat and turned my eyes away. The private moment between the mother and son should remind that way, I thought to myself.

•- Embry Call -•

I knew she was watching us all... managing to keep herself on the side-lines in that way of hers. But I saw her now there was no missing it now, as I had for so many years.

'Hey! I'm your one and only son... you should love me the most and I should be the light of your life.' #Tony protested with a big goofy smile on his face.

'But then who would I call when the cupboard doors break... or I need a shelf put up?' #Lucille teased and her son rolled his eyes.

'You need  to teach me to use a drill!' #Tony said to me. and Both his Mom and I chorus "No!" At the same time.

#Tony was smart as hell... and strong but, far too clumsy for power tools. "If it makes you feel any better my mom would trade me in for this one any day of the week." I grinned and nodded toward Leah. Smiling at her when my eyes.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Finishing my tea I set the cup down, my hands crossed over my chest as I watch the little telenovela playing out in front of me. A little proud of Call, because I knew that my Da Had spent a lot of time with him, showing him and teaching him. My eyebrows pulled together and then one raised at both of them shouting out a ‘No’, to #Tony’s request.

My eyes were in the man sat to the side now, he looked fine to me. So, I wasn’t sure.. before the thought was over, I recalled #Tony tripping over at the bar. The man was clumsy with his body. Maybe that was the reason?

‘Is it true Leah? Does his mom want to swap you for him?’ #Tony asked as I eyed Call for saying that.

“Hmm… who can blame her, look at him and then me. Who would you rather here?” I asked kicking Call under the table, but not hiding it from  the others. The two of them laughing.

“But then again, I’m sure my Ma would take him in too. So, it all comes down to him flashing his dimples at the moms. If you ask me.”

And then I took my eyes back to #Tony, I was smiling. He had turned red again. “Not sure I want to know what you are thinking.” I told him.

•- Embry Call -•

"Hey!" I protested at her kick. "Use your words, Clearwater,' I grinned Leah's answer to #Tony. clearing the last bite of cake from my plate. 'Your dimples are way cuter.' #Tony blurted out and then turned beet red. 'I mean... um...' He started to ramble.

I stood up with my plate and messed #Tony's hair. "I always knew you thought I was cute bro!" I teased him. Stopping him from embarrassing himself even more. I kissed the top of his head with a dramatic sound. "And I  think you are just darling too!" I went to set my plate into the little sink on the countertop.

'I certain it was talking about the lovely Ms. Clearwater.' #Lucille pointed out.

"No, no, no... he said that she was cuter meaning I'm  cute... just not as cute as her. And I can completely accept that."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pressing my lips together, I stopped myself from replying. The smile on his mom’s face and then add to it the colour of his neck, ears and cheeks. It was clear #Tony was downing more damage for letting his words blurt out than I could. And honestly, I didn’t want to. He wasn’t one of those leaching sort of a guy. He just was awkward around women. Which, I could see being endearing to some women.

‘Embry!’ #Tony batted him away, his eyes falling all over but on me again.

“It’s okay, Call needs to feel like the centre of attention. And I’m fine with it.” I told #Lucille.

“Anyway. You think I’m catch. That’s all the attention I need. However, I feel it’s only right, to tell you. I’ve been working on stealing MsC for the last 10 Ish years.” Smirking at the sound of the woman who was #Tony’s mom laughed.

•- Embry Call -•

"Hey!!" I feigned hurt. "I do not 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕 to be the centre of attention." I laughed. "It just happens a lot and by a happy accident... I quite enjoy it."

'Until you're on stage.' #Tony grinned.

'Oh yes! I never thought that you would have stage fright." #Lucille smiled at me, and I knew what was coming before she even said it. 'Anytime I saw you perform you were always so...'

'Mama.' #Tony whispered and #Lucille stopped talking.

"It's okay guys. Leah knows I still play." I said, smiling at them all.

'Good!!' Lucille clapped her hands together. "It's about time! So, Leah mia care (My dear) what do you think of our boy's talent?'

•- Leah Clearwater -•

It kind of warmed my heart when #Tony tried to stop his mom from letting Embry’s secret out.

But then his reaction…. #Tony’s eyes widened before he could school his thoughts. ( That man really was an open book ). At the new revelation.

However, his mom #Lucille took it in her stride.

All of their eyes turned on me, and if I weren’t sat on this table. And if they weren’t them… It would have been a dirty look they would have gotten back.

‘Yes, but we are evolving remember.’ My wolf enjoyed pointing out.

‘Leah?’ #Lucille prompted me again. Sitting back in my chair, I shifted my legs, the space too small for me to cross them without knocking the table.

“He is talented.” I started. “It comes so naturally to him... he has a way… people forget themselves while he forgets himself in those moments.” I said honestly. Because that was what it was like for me. When he played, I was transported.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled when she did that thing again, that silent conversation in her head. It was something I never had; I knew a lot of the pack did. But my wolf spoke through urges and feelings, he was everything I was, and I was everything he was... our thoughts and opinions didn't differ. Well mostly... the animal in me definitely fought for more on the night I spent with Leah.

"Until she makes me get on stage and sing." I teased, but my foot nudged her under the table subtly. Playing music when it was just the two of us... hell, listening to music when it was just the two of us... It had become an almost spiritual experience.

'So, he is capable of modesty?' #MrsFranco teased.

I just laughed and picked up my plate and cup. "It has been a treat seeing you both. But we need to get moving. we still have to run some errands for Leah's mom."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I didn’t Make him do anything. There was a bar full of witnesses, for the most part to testify on how badly you lost that bet. Not my fault.” I rolled my eyes smirking as I stood to take my cup and plate to the sink. How we #Tony was up and taking them for me.

‘You are welcome back anytime Leah. And you.’ #Tony and I laughs as his mom pulled Embry’s cheeks. ‘Next time you need to not leave it so long.’

“Thank you for the tea, cake and your wisdom.” I told her. I stepped out into the store, glancing at the guitars on the wall before giving them time for their good byes.

•- Embry Call -•

"Really? That's how you want to play this?" I scoffed and #Tony gave me the side eye.

'You mean with the truth?' He laughed. 'Oh yeah! That's below the belt!' He teased and it was such a good one I had to high-five him. I pulled him into a hug and then #MrsFranco was squeezing my cheeks.

I kissed the top of her head when she released me. "I'll do my very best." I answered when she told me the try and visit more and I meant it.

"Thank you for the food. You tell me what  you really think of this troublemaker next time. I winked at her dramatically and she swatted my arm lightly as she walked us out into the store.

I swept my gaze around one last time before stepping out into the street with Leah and saying one last goodbye before we left.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I wasn’t the kind of person who glanced back. Moving forward had become my thing in later years, and I had my own reasons for that rule.

But when the wind picked up, the whispers sang in my ears and over my soft skin. I came to a stop before crossing the busy street and  glanced back over my shoulder.

#Tony and his mom stood, and they both waved at me in the exact some way, the same smile on their faces and those eyes of their shining brightly.

“Those are good people.” I told Embry when he stood beside me. I let the comment about me and my evaluation pass for now. I sure couldn’t kick his arse with his witnesses watching out every move.

“I can see where Tony gets some part of him. She is something else.” I have them a small sharp nod before looking forward and crossing the street.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled and ‘Leah and waved back at them. “They are… #Tony is a great guy. When I first joined the pack; I kind of cut him out… Just not really knowing ow to act or where my life was going… you know. Then i just showed up one day and he  acted like everything was as it had always been. “

I chuckled. “#MrsFranco cracked me across the back of my head though…. And then did the same as #Tony.”

I nodded and crossed the street with her, heading back towards the park with her. There was still a little music in the air, but not as much. “I think #Tony has a lot of is father in him… at least, how his father was before his drinking became a problem. He had been a decent guy.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The smirk on my lips grew, imagining them both getting a smack over the back of their heads.

“I knew there was a reason I liked this woman.” And that was saying a lot, considering I didn’t like very many people on this Earth. My eyebrows pulled together at the mention of #Ton’s father. I hadn’t thought to ask about him. Knowing that if we’re something I needed to know, I would be told.

“Did you know Tony’s father?” Not mentioning the drinking problem, because let’s face it. We in the tribe  have a number of addiction problems we were all trying to fight.

The sounds of some music playing called to me, it wasn’t as full of performers as when we first arrived. However, there were still some. Without really thinking about it, I started the way we came.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and rubbed the back of my head; as if feeling the phantom slap again. "I deserved it... I mean I know it was a lot for any teenager to go through, and I stopped giving myself a hard time about it a long time ago. But a few text  messages wouldn't have killed me. " We entered the park again. My second favourite place away from home.

"Not as well as his mom, he worked a lot. But, I knew him well enough to see the changes happening. The nights when I was over dinner. The trips to Seattle for our grading performances were the most telling. he used to take us out to diners really late and make us promise not to tell our moms he let us stay out so late. But then he would start leaving us in the hotel room and nothing coming until after we were asleep... At the time we thought it was cool..."

I shrugged, I knew there was nothing we could have done at the time, and it was something we all witnessed growing up on the Rez. Depression that led to self-medicating... that, in turn, led to so much worse.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Yeah you deserved it. But then again, it was a learning curve for us all. If one of the pups did that now. I’d smack them upside the head. Tell them to hold on to the ones who care for them. Friends or family. It counts.”

I learnt that lesson the hard way. My eyebrows pulled together, I bit the inside of my cheeks as I listened and walked. I hadn’t known any of this, then again, I could see how teen boys would think it was cool.

I didn’t judge #Ton’s father, I didn’t know him. Didn’t understand what took him to his darkness. But as a grown man, he should have known better than that.

“What happened to him? Is he still in their lives?” I finally asked as I pushed both my hands into my pockets.

•- Embry Call -•

I couldn’t help but laugh, Leah always agreed with the mom’s especially the ones that slapped me.

I dragged my hand through my hair and took in a long breath when she asked what happened to #MrFranco. “He died in a car crash when #Tony was thirteen. He was drunk… Mom still never told me the whole story but as far as I know he was drunk and tried to leave in the car. #Lucille tried to take his keys… but she couldn’t. He lost control on the 101… No one else was hurt.” We headed through the park, was just following her lead, lost in the memory of that time.

“#Tony took it really hard. His mom decided to tell him the truth… I guess she thought it would stop him doing the same thing. He refused to believe it for a long time.” I shook my head again… “It was the first funeral i ever went to, I remember thinking how strange the Catholic mass was. I think every single member of the church showed up.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pushing my hands deeper into my pocketed, I stopped hearing the music now. All I heard was the tragedy that feel on the door of this family.

There was nothing they could have done to stop it, however if they were anything like me…. I put a stop to those thoughts. “He’s a good guy, despite his loss.” I finally said. Working out that #Tony would have been still feeling the loss of his father when Embry went MIA because of the change.

I looked to my side, my vision on him walking in step with me. His eyes and mine lost to the past. “It’s not that different to ours. The tribe will pay their respects. In their way before the family is left to guide the soul to the spirits.”

This is why our traditions were so important to me. We had to send those we cared for in the correct way. Making sure they found their rest until it was time for them to move on.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled. "He really is... He's everything his father could have been in a different life... if he could have gotten help... or... I don't know. These things are never black and white." I dropped my hand and tapped out the notes of the nearest performer's song against my leg as we walked.

"I know... it was kind of beautiful really. There was singing and music... and they presented his favourite things during the service." I shook off the topic. I wasn't sure if I missed the man sometimes too or if I just felt the loss my friend experienced... Maybe it was both and that was okay too. "I still text #Tony every year on his Dad's birthday and Christmas."

I pulled out my phone where I had the text from #Sue of the things she wanted me (now us) to do here. "Okay... We should hit the car wash next for the supplies and then the printers for the banner." I scratched the back of my head. "Or should we go to the printers first in case they messed it up... your mom asked me to make sure they were good before I left with it?" I was partly asking her and partly thinking out loud when another thread of musically notes tried to tug on my attention.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The sad things was that I knew what he meant. I had witnessed the madness that came with addiction. Be it alcohol, drugs or gambling. It broke the person with it, and the life’s around them too.

Out of the side of my eye, I saw his hand drop. I took a beat in my step  just to fall back a step to see what his finders were doing. My ears with my Spirit Warriors hearing, tuning into the performance he was listening too.

‘Interesting’ she purred. And I rolled my eyes at her.

He took his phone out next, and I moved my eyes away. I didn’t wasn’t to pry on his privacy.

“Hmm? Oh.” I didn’t need long to think this out. “The printers first. If they messed anything up, we have time for them to fix it before they close.”

And they would fix it. Otherwise, I would have words. Well. A look to give them that said it all for me.

“Then the supplies. What they don’t have we can I’m sure find somewhere else too.” I saw him being pulled by the music. This was his home away from home. Just as Seattle had become mine for very different reasons.

“Or, you could go grab Ton, do something around here with him. And I can walk over to the printers. It won’t take me long.”

These jobs really were my responsibility. And I would have words with Ma about this later.

•- Embry Call -•

She always listened so intently. Absorbing all the information offered and I could see the understanding in her face. I was lucky enough that I hadn’t witnessed anyone I loved dearly to struggle with addiction… but classmates, their parents…  so many of the tribe. We had all seen it and felt it.

“The printers it is.” I grinned at her. My smile grew wider the more she said. “Whatever they don’t have ready I will sweet talk them into donating anyway.” I laughed. It was a skill,  and it wasn’t just effective on the ladies.

I glanced back over my shoulder when she mentioned #Tony. “No, we’ll go together. I told your Mom I wanted to help out with this event… and I plan on impressing the hell out of her. These are my errands... you are just along for the ride, Trouble.” I swerved as we walked and bumped her arm with mine. “Don’t try to steal my glory.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Are you joking? Me? Steal your glory? When it comes to my Ma? Like that is even possible.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Let’s face facts, you, and any of the moms. None in f us have a chance.” His gift of the gab ( or the art of his conversation as I put it.) won over all the women of the Rez and then some. I pulled my hands out of my pockets, combing one though my hair before turning to glance at him.

“You do know that Ma appreciates the time you give. Whenever you can.” She knew too well that Call had been working hard and then looking out for Ms T. So, she didn’t push him to help with her millions of events.

Then at the same time, she would never say no if he could help too. It was a fine line. And somehow, Ma knew how to walk it.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and stuffed my phone back into my pocket. My fingers brushed against the hospital beeper, and I quickly yanked my hand back out of my pocket. "All it takes is being a good listener... or a good distraction. Depending on the situation." I smirked and that I was good at, reading a room.

"I know she does." I glanced at her as we walked. "It's one of the things I love most about her. She wears her emotions on her sleeve, and always voices them." I turned my head to her know. "Not that there isn't a pull to the mystery of those that don't do that." I smiled that new just-for-her smile.

I did like the search, watching her eyes and her reactions... filling the non-verbal communication we seemed to be fluent in with no practice.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The movement was so fast, that it would have been missed by another. But my eyebrows pulled together as we walked and I listened to him talk about my Ma, knowing what sat in that pocket of his.

“Call.” I finally said when he glanced over at me. I said his name, surprised that the sound came out the way it did when he showed up on my doorstep, the night he found out what I had done by going to the tribal council.

He was laughing, but I saw past it. So, I stepped in front of him, facing him. My hand reached out between us, palm up. “Let me help, just for now?” It was his choice.

I would never take it away from him. But I would offer to hold and be the guardian of that precious alarm call, telling us that we needed to move and get his mom to the hospital. All other conversations were forgotten, my hands remained outstretched, and my brown eyes locked with his.

Telling him that no matter his choice, he wasn’t alone in this. That even with the beautiful smile of his, the one I only saw shared with me. I saw the fear hidden too, and I was here for both. With or without this thing blossoming between us. I am here.

•- Embry Call -•

The second she used my name I knew she'd seen it. She never missed a trick. She stepped into my path, and I stopped, locking dark brown eyes on hers, brows raised and a different kind of smile on my lips now.

I reached into my pocket and  slipped the tiny, offending machine out. I weighed it in my palm for a second, my gaze only drifting from hers for a second before I reached out and tipped it into her outstretched hand. I rested my palm over hers for a second.

"Thank you." I didn't say it because I thought she wanted to be thanked, I said it because it was what my mother would want me to do when someone took such a huge burden to give me time out from being under the weight of it. "That bloody thing is heavier than it looks." To anyone else, it would sound like a joke but there weren't many people that understood how very true the statement was. Leah was one of that very small handful of people.

And now I really wanted to kiss her, just  one light touch of my mouth against hers. Damn... it was... new... and I liked it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

It wasn’t in me to read into anything. But this I knew meant so much that there had to bed a element of faith, or at least a small amount of trust.

In this moment, I didn’t care if it was in his Beta, or if it was in Leah. The fact was he had taken out the device and had  dropped it into the palm of my hand, with his resting over it.

Our eyes were locked again, and I swallowed hard when he thanked me. I knew better Than to tell him not to. Because this man right here. He was his mom’s son.

“I know it’s heavy, I got it. I got you.” To anyone it was just a small plastic device that weighted nothing. But then this device brought a mix of life for someone you cared for, and death for a soul you never knew. The weight of that, it sat heavy of the person carrying it.

My eyes meat his when I looked back from the device now in my hand. And I read what his eyes were saying. Clearing my throat, I said;  “We should get going.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled, and slipped my hand away from hers, my gaze still on hers. "That's a lot of strange new sensation." I chuckled and we both I was not talking about the freeing feeling of not carrying that thing.

It had become such a normal part of my day that I only remembered how hard it was when I passed it on to someone else. But this time there was something more to it now.

I didn't thank her again, I just started to walk along the path again, back towards the Jeep. "Let's  go..." I grinned and changed. "Are you glad you came along? Running errands can still be a great day off if you do it right."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

We walk down a short while in silence, after I placed the device in my inside jacket pocket and then zipped the two sides up half way. There was no way I was losing or damaging it.

“Hmm…” I thought about his question as the music in the park started to grow distract and  we came to the far exit closest to #Jackies’s store and his jeep.

“Actually I am.” There would have been a time I was be in distress sharing this much time with another. But now. Not so much.

“And you’re still alive. That’s saying something about evolution, right?” Smirking as I stopped at the edge of the street, checking the traffic before stepping out and crossing.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her following across the street, giving on a quick glance, relying on my hearing more than anything else. I had seen her zipping the beeper into her pocket.

"And you're still standing here with me..." I grinned. "That says a  lot about yours."

I chuckled when we reached the Jeep and fished out the keys. "If in doubt... go see Mrs. Franco. She can win anyone's heart." jiggled the keys in her direction. "Wanna drive?" I asked, knowing that drive here took a lot  of faith on her behalf.

I wasn't defensive over who drove my baby, If the keys were on the hook in the house then they were welcome to them. They all knew to be gentle with her.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Don’t read too much into it, I could easily still kill you and hide the body.”

Rolling my eyes at him I chewed the inside of my cheeks, the Wisearse kind of had a point. I was still here, I wasn’t threatening him as much as I would normally, and he didn’t annoy me as much.

“Spirits.” I groaned.

The Call thing his Mom did was rubbing off on him too? How else was this possible?

‘Maybe because you are seeing the truth behind his so-called open book, which we now know, isn’t at open?’

My wolf stirred, then turned her back on me before falling asleep once again. I held my hand up for the keys, catch them and making my way around the driver side.

“Don’t have to ask me twice.” I needed to be in control of his rust bucket if it was going to take me down. “Printers, right?”

Closing the door, the keys in the ignition. His Red Jeep started the first time around. “That I didn’t expect.” I told the Jeep, not Call.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed. "Nah... it would go against your self-imposed moral code." I smirked. "And I haven't broken any rules... Yet." I quirked a brow at the word Yet.

I saw it in her eyes when she realised the Call Magic was working on her. "Thank you, Granddad." I whispered to myself.

I tossed her the keys when she held her hand out for the keys and we switched sides. and I climbed in. "Printers it is." I smiled and watched her doubt my poor baby.

"I will have you know that this  baby has never let down. She starts first time, every time." Then I quickly added. "I mean... other than the times she doesn't, but a quick tune up and boom... back in business!"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Yet.” I repeated knowing what that meant full well.

Rolling my eyes at him for show. I control what my heart and body did. How they reacted to the sound of the Engine coming to life with me sat in here. The saving Grace for me had to be that it was bigger than Ma’s car.

Looking in the mirror before I reversed the jeep out of its spot and drove onto the street and then off we went.

“Even your jeep knows how to speak to you. It’s all about the bloody words with you and she.”

I liked giving him crap about his jeep, but I respected his passion for these old things. His Jeep, his bike. His mom was right when she said, ‘My son was born with an old soul.’

I kept both hands on the wheel and didn’t relax the way I did on my baby. As I drove us out to the far end of town.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled when she repeated the word yet. "Hey, it's an old vehicle.. if you want the vintage charm you have to put in the effort and accept the flaws."

I didn't talk much, I even managed not to connect my phone to the sound system. She wasn't fond of enclosed vehicles. I looked up and wondered if taking the top down would make a difference. My brows knit together. It was a bit of an ordeal getting it down... but I would have to try it one day.

The jeep was steady the whole journey. I gave her a smug smile when we were almost there. "I told you that my girl was reliable, didn't I?"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I never said anything about flaws. There I beauty of those things which are imperfect. ”They didn’t come more imperfect that life. We didn’t speak for a long time, my eyes were on the road, on the jeep and on the oncoming traffic. I made myself sit still  the impatience I once had, the uncomfortable sensations, my heart trying to beat freely, all things I hide well.

He waited until we are a block of two out, before speaking again.  “You’re faith in her paid off.” I told him. “She’s got something that keeps her ticking.” I told him. The store in my sights, I searched to find somewhere to pull up and park his Jeep.

“Can I ask you something?” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know or not, but Spirits. Why not?  “How do you do it? The open house, throwing the keys to your baby to anyone?” It wasn’t that I didn’t like to share. It was the knowing I could Go home and be alone. Or If I needed to leave. My baby was my way out. He had none of that.

“I know you’ve told me why you do it. But. It’s not something you need  to think about, is it?” His Jeep was parked in a bay, correctly and I had pulled the keys out and held them out for him to take.

•- Embry Call -•

"I'm glad that we agree." I smiled, glancing sideways ways at her. I shifted in my seat; was she always this sexy when she focused?

I smiled and patted the dashboard. "See baby, I told you that she liked you, really." I whispered.

"I mean... I didn't always..." I dragged my hand through my hair. "But when I was... when things were bad at home and I started..." I paused. She knew. "I closed doors between me and pack and the worse things got I even started shutting out  #Jake and #Quil. I stopped playing music... I..." I took a breath, remembering how it felt.

"After that, it got really easy to just... get deeper and deeper into all the shit I was doing. So when I finally woke up I guess I just wanted to make sure it didn't happen to the young ones. I didn't want them to feel like it would be easy to make bad choices because there was no one left to disappoint. One night one of the pups showed up at the door, he had nowhere to go and  #Kishil was still tiny, he didn't want to wake up #Sam and #Emily so he came to our place. He kissed a boy at a party and his father found out... he freaked and screamed at him to get out." I stopped abruptly. "Don't get angry yet... it  gets better." I chuckled softly.

"We talked for about an hour before his father called and apologised, begging him to come home. Saying he was an idiot. I told him he should go, and that the door would be unlocked for him. He could come  back anytime and history was made. The door is only locked now when #Bear is home. But, they know they can still come anytime, just that they have to behave. It just never felt... wrong. I did a lot of things that never sat right... but  this always felt like the right thing. I love those guys like family, I trust them. #Quil feels the same way, it just... happened. I don't think I was always the type of person that would do that... But I don't think I ever changed either... not really. It's hard to explain."

I paused and a smile crept slowly across my face. "Evolution, I suppose."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I had started to see the unseen and underrated things he did and said. Things I wouldn’t have paid attention to before. Because let’s face it, my oh walls and the need to stay hidden hadn’t giving me the time to slow down enough to see him. ( or be seen by him or anyone else. )

The way he racked his fingers though his hair, the silky smooth hair locks fell back to fame his face. That side thought; ‘he needs a hair cut.’ Came before I could stop it. And then the fact that he was about to tell me something he may not have had time to consider or formulate followed after.

And the moment he started to speak I knew and understood why. That had been a bad time for him. For his and his mom.

A time when he felt the only way out was to fall into the arms of #JoeWalker. The dealing and the…. I stopped the thought because they brought a whirlwind of emotions with them. The first being I wanted to punch #Walker in the face. ( Even if I believed we cannot blame others for our own actions and decisions. )

My eyes were not trained in the direction far in front of us. I watched a family of five walking across the street as I listened and took in what Embry said.

Chewing on the inside of my cheeks, I clasped my hands on my lap frowning as I let his words sink in.

Hearing about the pup. The anger in my chest growing to the point that my wolf was sat upright and she wanted out. My heart was steady, my thoughts not so much.

My eyes darting to him the moment he read me and my reaction. And it put a kind of a dampener on it.

‘How… how did he do that?’ My wolf looked to him with the same confusion as I did. But we didn’t speak. We listened.

When he was finally done, I didn’t want to go and find the pups dad and kick his arse ( much ), but a side note was tucked away. Just in case I had the opportunity to remind the difference in the belief of our people v those of the pale faces  We didn’t hold one’s true souls ransom. Our ancestors and spirits told us to Care open and freely. They told us Our souls connect. Not the minds of Society, and intolerance.

“And here I thought it was because you wanted to always feel young and hip.” Said with my face dead pan, and no smile.

I knew there was more to it. But again. In the tribe the complaints had been that their house was a “party house”. If only the idiots of the council knew.

“Evolution…” There it was once again, the word that had become our companion in this journey we were undertaking.

•- Embry Call -•

I had known what she was thinking, and I had the same reaction myself, but the Pup and his dad managed to bury that hatchet. At the end of the day that was all that mattered. It hadn't been an easy road for them, and I know that many guys had  loud opinions on the situation. I wasn't going to add to it with my own.

I laughed softly at her reply. "Well... I mean that was the main motivation, everything else was a side bonus. But honestly... having them come to ours to party and all of that... I liked that too, it meant they weren't out on the beach or getting into trouble."

I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door but then I stopped myself. "Do you need to vent about that story before we go inside, and you give a poor printer's assistant the fright of his life?"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Embry and #Quil had taken care of those pups more than I could have ever. And that thought didn’t sting, it came with pride. We were a pack; we all had our strengths. And people weren’t one of mine. I would kick their arses into action. Whereas #Jake, Embry, #Quil and the #TheKid. The pups knew they could go to them. Undoing the bucket, I stopped looking to Embry with, ‘Ha fucking haha eyes.’

“Why are you always the Wisearse. I know I’m a bitch, but even I wouldn’t go off on someone, because I’m pissed at someone else.” I was out the jeep. My hand moved over the pocket with the device in it before I pocketed my hands and started to cross the street.

“Step to it Embry Call. We’ve got placed to be, and people to see.”

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned at her when she gave me that epic eye roll. I reached out and took her wrist lightly. Just enough to stop her from climbing out of the Jeep. "You're not a bitch Leah. I'm sure you have your moments just like anyone else, but in  general, you aren't a bitch."

I let go and stepped out of the Jeep and followed her to the door of the printer. I told the young guy behind the counter that I wanted to pick up and order for #SueClearwater and he disappeared into the  back.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I walked in silence to the door and stepped inside. Letting Embry take the lead as this was his show, and I was here for the ride. ( A conversation I would have with my Ma when the moment was right. )

I crossed my arms, feeling the device in my pocket as I watched him from  behind. His words, did he know what he had said? Because it was a a well feed image that I never created, but when it was set, I feed into it.

And now…

I shook my head as the kid came out from the back of the store and opened the rolled up posters, and set the box of flyers on the counter.

•- Embry Call -•

I  took one end of the long banner as the guy unrolled it and compared it to the picture that Sue had sent me. I double-checked the spelling in each word just Like #Sue asked.

 I passed my phone to Leah. "Looks like what your mom wanted right?" I showed her the picture she had sent me. And I set it down the have a look in the box of the flyers.

'We made everything to Mrs Clearwater's instructions.' The young guy said.

"I'm sure you did, we just want to make sure the  lady is happy, she works so hard for our community. We have to do our part too." I lashed him a smile and scanned the flyers again/

'I understand.' He smiled back. 'So, this events like a bikini car wash but with guys?' His eyes moved  from me to Leah like he wasn't sure who he would prefer to see in a bikini... I left Leah to answer that one.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Taking the phone out of Embry’s hands I glanced the image over from bottom to top, and then right to left. The best way to proof read was to do it backwards.

“The banner is good.” I told them both. I didn’t need to see the face of the young guy to feel his eyes on me.

At first I paid him no attention, it wasn’t unlike any other day in the life of a woman.

But then when he made the comment about the bikinis, and then his eyes wondered over me. I placed my free hand in the table between us and gave him a deadly look.

“If you want to see me in a bikini, I’ll strip down right now. But the moment I do it, you will be naked on your arse running down the street for everyone in town to see. So, eyes down. And do your job.”

I set the flyer down on the table and pointed to the top. “It’s meant to say 𝕌𝕝𝕚𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕕𝕚 (Welcome) on the top of the flyers. Why does this only say Wellcome?”

He fumbled, close to pissing his pants. Just what I thought. The kid needed to learn some manners.

‘Oh, we thought it was a typo.’ He finally said. “It’s the oldest language in this state. It’s been around longer than your language. And yet you could not even spell welcome correctly? Your word… WELCOME only has one ‘L’, in it. And this has two.”

My voice was cool and collected, and that sometimes ( most of the time ), was worse than shouting. The menace in the tone said it all.

•- Embry Call -•

I skimmed over the flyer, but I was quickly distracted when Leah leaned in the examine them. She smelled really, really good.

I tried not to laugh at her comments about the bikini. I looked up at the guy when he said that the Quileute words were typos... I had never learned much of the language, but I had respected it as Quileute heritage, I just disassociated that part of myself for much my young life. A decision I regretted now. I looked at him and my eyes told him it was time to run.

Leah's voice did those low lethal low things and where it  had given me a chill before this time it heated my blood, I considered trying the sorting the intense yet calm bow she'd dealt the boy, but when I thought about what I should say I couldn't think of anything that said it any better than she had.

The boy started to ramble and I flipped over the incorrect poster and scribbled my number on the back with a pen taped to a string on the counter, as I spoke. "Next time... pick up the phone and ask. Mrs Clearwater would have been happy to educate you. This is my number." I slide him the piece of  paper and smiled at him. "I'm sure it won't be a problem to have this rushed through today, right?"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

‘ Absolutely, it will be done in two hours.’ The young guy said.

“Try in One hour, and you are taking off 20% from the final payment for our time wasted too.” I didn’t take my eyes off him. And I saw him squirm under the pressure of it.

‘I.. I cann—’ he started and I cut him off.

“Unless you are about to call the store owner and explain how you messed up. How you called my language a typo…”

‘One hour ma’am, and 30% off.’ His voice cracked.

I stepped back from the counter. “I said 20% and that what I mean.”  I knew the business would absorb the amount I asked for. Anything over that would hit his pay cheque. And sure, after the way he acted. It would be a lesson. But I wasn’t that much of a bitch.

“One hour.” I told him and glanced over to Embry, to see if he wanted to add anything more.

•- Embry Call -•

I was about to tell the guy that two hours were fine but then Leah corrected I'm and I stopped myself... I wasn't how someone could be this calm and still have that much fury in her eyes. After that, all I could think about was how fucking  she was when she was determined.

Then her eyes were on me, and I smiled. Fuck!

Those eyes.

"I think the lady pretty much covered it." I was still only looking at her. We left the shop and started back towards the car. "You are so sexy  when you get the determined look in your eyes, you know that?" I grinned at her.

"But we probably could have given the guy the extra hour." I added with a raised brow.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My hands were pushed into my pockets and I pressing the tip of my thumb into the tip of every finger. Stilling the anger, calming it, and reminding myself that I wasn’t the girl who blew up when people took the piss out of my heritage and culture.

I had grown, learnt and….  My head jerked up to the side where Embry walked step to step with me and my eyebrows pulled into frown.

“Not the reaction I expected from you. Aren’t you going to give me the ‘use your words better, Leah.’ But no.”

I couldn’t roll my eyes, my concentration was on making sure each fingertip touched my thumb.

“And we aren’t going back for one and half hours. That kid needs to learn a lesson.” I told him, stopping beside his red jeep.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and automatically walked to the passenger side of the Jeep. 'You did use your words... You just didn't take any prisoners. And I get it... It's not like this is the first bit of business these guys have had from the Reservation.

So, if they had doubts, they should have called your mother." I shrugged and tried to ignore the tiny movements that made tell-tale twitches in the muscles of her forearm... Was she counting her fingers? Or maybe clenching and unclenching her  fist? I let it go without a word. She had no doubt seen my own nervous habit in the par and had let it slide too.

 "I still think we could have given him the extra though... sometimes you be surprised what letting people think is a small  win can do for their work ethic."

 I reached out for the passenger door... partially to stop myself from reaching out and touching her arm or should... I licked my bottom lip; maybe her cheek. Then I could run my thumb along that perfect  lower lip and...

Shit! Nope. Not here! I cleared my throat.

"Did you want to go to the car wash first or get some lunch first while we wait?" The second the L word was out of my mouth my stomach growled... Not that I was starving...

just that the mention of food always made me want it more.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

He did it again. I stood looking at him. Everything stopped for me for a moment as what he was saying sunk in.

I thought back on the situation and how I played things, and then I took into account what Embry was suggesting we/ I should have done. And I could see the reasoning  behind taking those steps. I just couldn’t in the moment understand why I should need to sugar coat anything for that young guy. And yet… I saw the other side with his suggestion too.

“You should have said something in there.” I told him. “If you thought I was  taking  the wrong stand.” The door open to the jeep I climbed in.

“I think your stomach just make the decision for us. Good food first.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her. "I would have... but you weren't unreasonable either. I would have if I felt you were being unfair." I climbed into the cheek. "I just think in these situations you can't undo or unsee the wrong that was done. But you  change things for the next person to come along... Point out the mistakes and the errors in judgement..." I tilted my head... "And the everyday racism... but also show a small amount of forgiveness, not because they deserve it... But the next person might not get treated like that if they feel their actions were corrected and forgiven. It carries forward. Plus... we can't be sure that it was him that changed the typography."

I buckled up and patted my stomach. "Settle down, boy! We're going for food?" I turned the face her. "What are you in the mood for?"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Paving a clear I g path for those who may follow.”

Okay, so I liked the way he saw another side of this situation. He was starting to make me think of a bigger picture that I would have picked up on, but much later down the line.

“Let’s hope they learn and put some thought into it before messing up again.”

Waiting for him to buckle up, I started the jeep. Once again my eyebrow raising at the soft sound of the way the engine turned. The old girl still had some tricks up her sleeve.

Checking the road and the traffic I pulled out  Rolling my eyes at the way he was speaking to his stomach.

“Two choices.” I tell him. “One. Is Leo’s, but it’s back at the start of town. And B… is the brewery at the waterfront. It’s good old fashioned pub food.” My eyes were on the road, and both my hands on the wheel. “You get to pick. And so you know. You will be judged on your choice.”

•- Embry Call -•

I just smiled and said nothing more about my ideas on conflict resolution... I wouldn't lie. I wasn't going to lie I wasn't always so enlightened and when though it was my general way of thinking; I didn't take that path every single time.

We all had those days when we just couldn't take it anymore and some poor sod paid the cost of a few months or more of townies' ignorance... I was still a Spirit and that still cam it hard to manage anger, even if I didn't wolf out unintentionally anymore.

She would think about and if I'd learned anything about her in the last week, she would adapt to her evolution in a way she saw fit her best. Or not at all if it just wasn't for her.

"That's one of those  secret-option-three questions and I am not falling into that trap, Trouble!" I smirked at her s she drove. "I've never been to the brewery so that and say choice! Gotta try it and obviously we're stopping at Leo's on the way home." I gave  her a cheeky grin. "Do you think it's my first day?" I teased.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyes remain on the road, but I saw him in thought beside me. I didn’t need to fill the space with sounds. My voice wasn’t one I needed to hear either.

There were times where I could go all day without saying a thing. With the only conversation taking place with my wolf, and that was a good day for me. A bloody great day actually.

“Would I trick you like that?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “On second thoughts don’t answer that.”

Seeing that grin of his. “You do know I could punch that grin off your face?” I told him. But taking the right to the water front and not the left that would take us to Leo’s.

“There is no way we are leaving Port and not taking pizza home for the moms. I may like my freedom, but I’m not stupid enough to get my arse disowned.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smirked and kept my eyes on her side profile. "Yes!!" I said emphatically. "Yes, you would! Without hesitation." I laughed hard.

I set my eyes to the front when she made her threat, but I was still grinning. "I know you could. But you  wouldn't... not after I just dropped some semi-decent wisdom."

I grinned even wider when she took the turn. "Yeah, the moms would not be impressed. I should probably grab one for #Quil too. How many guys have you taken to this place on  the waterfront anyway?" I asked, knowing it was zero. At least in the way I was implying.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I just rolled my eyes and pressed my lips together. He was not on a bloody roll. And I knew there was coming back from it.

As I took the time to drive within the speed limits of Port, my eyes always in the road. Keeping the people on the sidewalk in my check, as well as the mirrors.

“Do I look like the kind of woman who share her eating haunts with dudes?” Spirit! Wasn’t that what I was doing now? “You don’t count.” Why? Why didn’t he count in those I wouldn’t bring?

I shook my head when my wolf laughter. She knew why, but she wasn’t sharing.

“Do you want to go or not? Keep asking me stupid questions and I will let you eat at the gas station.” I say it just as we drive pass one, and I point. “Like there.”

Smiling as he spoke about the moms and then. “Oh, the wife. Can’t forget him.” Because #Quil and #TheKid kind of went without saying. They would be in the mix no matter what.

•- Embry Call -•

I clutched at my non-existent pearls, utterly (and dramatically) aghast! “You wound me, Trouble!!” Then I started to mutter an almost unintelligible string of mumblings about “Not counting” and being “more than just eye candy” and the phrases “make-out monkey” and “man meat” may or may not have been in the mix too.

I zipped my lips when she threatened to leave me at the gas station and burst out laughing almost instantly.

“Hey, if I didn’t feed him he would live on  Doritos.” I laughed… I may have been overstating my role in keeping that guy alive, but he was working his ass off so he could help #Bear to college. “You know… it's actually really strange we never spent more time together before…” I  chuckled. “We both spend a lot of our time looking after everyone else…” Not that I thought what I did came anywhere close to the things Leah did for all of us. “Imagine if we’d teamed up years ago?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I just rolled my eyes at his comments. “Sure. Without the wife would be a bag of chips himself.” Okay. I could see some part of it being true. But #Quil wasn’t so bad, right?

“You would be dead and walking in the land of the spirits.” I say dead pan as I turned off the Main Street and into sixth avenues parking lot.

“You could have made a move, towards trying to find a place in my way….” Because that would have been how I would have seems it. “..and it would have cost you, your life. We both know I would have been in a place where the only outcome was… you are crawling away without your kneecaps in tacked.”

The jeep parked the keys out. I turned my eyes to look at him. He was always a beam of light. Laughing, joking, smiling.

“Also, we both know… teaming up on four legs was the only way I could stand you.”

This I did say with a smile on my lips.

“Now come on, there are burgers and beer with me name on it.”

And the ocean calling my name too. But that was a conversation for another day.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled… people joked but the way we ran the house worked. I did what passed as the cooking… which was mainly heating up what Sue on Emily gave us, or whatever pies and lasagnes we bought frozen. I did the laundry and #Quil did the rest  of the housework… I also had the duty of waking him up in the morning. In general, he was the most level-headed and responsible guy I knew… but he was so not a morning person.

“C’mon now, Clearwater! I know it would have cost me something, but you’d never kill me. “ I smirked like that was some kind of win.

“We always made a pretty good team… the whole pack, I mean… not just us. Especially after Nessie was born. I think it put a lot of things into perspective.” My stomach  growled again as soon as I opened the door… it hadn’t even been that long since I ate. “Oh damn… I like this place already and I’ve only smelled the food!” I grinned at her and walked around the jeep, taking long strides. “Get the lead out, Trouble,” I smirked as I passed her for once.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Eyebrow raised I watched him walk around and off towards the brewery entrance. It made me roll my eyes at how cocky he was even now, but then again. So was I. So, could I hold that against him? The answer… Spirits, Yeah, I could.

“They have a smoker out back. That’s what  brings people in by their nose.”

It took three of four steps, and I was walking beside him.

“You’re going to be a handful for them in there.” I knew the girls behind the bar. And he was their perfect piece of steak. “And I’m going to kick back and let it happen.” Pushing the door open with my shoulder, the scent of food, meat, barley all combined together. There was an earthy warmth in the place before it really was a working brewery in the back.

Noticing as my eyes wonder over the space, the exits, and the windows. There weren’t as busy as it got in the evenings and weekend, but there was still a fair amount of people in the place.

“Bar and then table?” I asked but I was already walking to place my order. I wasn’t going to waste time sitting down without my food being made.

•- Embry Call -•

I inhaled deeply. “Really? That’s awesome! It smelled amazing.” My brows knit together when she said I was a handful “What do you mean?” I asked and followed her inside. She did that thing again and this time it baffled me… She’d been here before… regularly by the sounds of things. But she still scanned the whole place every time she came here?

It was only when all the scents hit me, my stomach growled again. I nodded to Leah. “Sounds good to me… I wanna try what they brew  here.” I smiled at her. “I mean it's a brewery, it would just be rude not to.”

As we approached the bar I understood what she had said outside. the girls behind the bar were gorgeous… and one of them was eyeing me as she pulled a pint of  whatever they had on tap. But none of my usual curiosity bubbled up. “I see what you're up to, Trouble. Are you planning to offer me up as bait?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyes combed over the bar and all the waiting eyes on him. “I mean most people find it hard to pick what to eat here. You. I have a feeling will dance about the menu, even with it being one page.”

The place did a few things, and spirits they did them well. I pointed up at the board on which they had written what was on the smoker that day. And then beside it a list of three burgers, and sides.

“They keep it simple, and still people find it hard to pick.” I tell him with smirk.

“Bait? Spirits yeah, if it gets me faster service. Like you wouldn’t do the same.”

It was all in jest. There was no way I would use anyone as bait. He kind of did that himself when he walked about in his so called ‘uniform’ from the club.

‘Leah Clearwater! As I live and breathe!’ I knew the voice that came booming from the side. Making me stop for a moment and then turn towards it.

“Jackson. Still alive I see.” He laughed brushing his fingers through his hair.

‘You would miss my concoctions if I weren’t alive woman and you know it.’ He came up and took my extended hand shaking it. ‘Is it time to up the orders to #HWH today?’ He clasped his hands together in a prayer.

Rolling my eyes at him i smirks. “Can’t a woman come in to eat and have a drink without thinking business?” ‘Sure she can, and then she could give me another order? Because I know my brew is magical in her hands. Can’t a man dream here?’ His eyes went over the side of me and he whispered. ‘And for the first time.. she brings a date? I’m intrigued.’

I crossed my arms over  my chest. “Are you going to talk crap and waste my time now?” His hands flew up.

‘I kid! I kid!’ He steps around me to take Embry’s hand. ‘A friend is Leah’s is a friend of mine. I’m Jackson Hayes, the owner of this small place we call Bells & Rivers. Welcome.’

•- Embry Call -•

“I could just order one of everything.” I smirked. “That way I don’t need to decide.” I scanned the board she pointed to and instantly my stomach started to growl immediately.

Then I heard a deep male voice from behind us. I watched them  interact and noted the difference between how she was here or with #Tony’s mom and in the tea shop, compared to the print shop. Her protectiveness was unyielding.

I grinned and shook his hand, not denying the date thing, but not perpetuating the assumption either “Pleasure to meet you, Mr Hayes.” I smiled. “This is one hell of a place you have here.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

‘He is polite and charming, it’s a dangerous combination there.’

#Jackson jokes with Embry.

‘I am glad you think so, it’s my life’s proudest moment starting here. Now, I won’t keep you from your food. I know Leah gets a little cranky if we don’t feed her.’

I roll my eyes. “And yet he is still talking.” This makes him laugh even harder.

‘I know deep down you love our back-and-forth Miss Clearwater. Now eat, then give me a call.’

Patting Embry’s shoulder, he says. “The pork is succulent and sweet, and the rib all off the bone. Choose wisely young one.’ Then he walked off, doing the universal sign for ‘call me.’

I knew his beer sold well, and it would mean supporting a small local business. So, I took my phone out, sent a quick message to the #HwH group chat.

TEXT < Let me know it we need more from Jackson Hayes’s. I could do as deal with him.-L >

And hit send before pocketing it. My hand grazed over the other small device making sure it was still safe.

“Ready to try something out?”

I walked the rest of the way to the bar, ordering a taster beer slide, it had six different small glasses on it. With the ribs, fries, mac ‘n’ cheese, and a cheese burger too.

“That’s me, what do you want?” I smirked.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at #MrHayes. “Gotta admirer a man with pride in what he does and a healthy respect for self-care.” There was no denying he was a good-looking man... And not just in a for his age kinda way.

“Trust me... I don't play around when it comes to food.” I chuckled and gave the man a nod when he departed. Then a wide grin at least told her I was indeed ready to eat. No one here seemed to bat an eye at Leah’s order... They must have been used to her orders  here. That didn't mean I couldn’t give them. A run for their money.

“Oh... I’ll try that beer taster too... When in Rome and all.” I smiled at the bartender... Slash waitress? “And I’ll have the ribs, a half chicken...” I examined the board and pursed my lips. “A cheeseburger with pulled pork and the fries, slaw and corn on the cob.”

‘Should I put half of that in a doggie bag right away or......’ She smirked. I admired the playful cheek.

“Don't worry... If I can't finish it alone I'm sure this one will help me out.” I smirked right and she gave me an appreciative we’ll see look. She told us to take a seat and she bring it right out.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The moment I sat down at a booth, one of the girls was right there. ‘Two of the new blend. Jackson said there are on the house.’

I shrugged the jacket off, my hand working into the pocket to transfer the small device from it into my back jean’s pocket now. I relaxed back  thanking her. “The man knows how to get himself more business.” I muttered to myself looking at the two glasses. It was a rye blend. The colour gave it away right away.

Watching the interaction with Call makes me smirk. “Be careful, they well start to think you are a competitive eater.”

People made assumptions, and I never corrected them. It’s how Half of my reputation was made for me, and I had no issues with it. Picking up one of the glasses, I took in the scent, the look, the feel, and then looked to Embry.

“Tell me what you think of this one.” Pushing the second glass towards him.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at Leah when the waitress set the drinks down, though I felt a brief glance in my direction. “Must be awesome being so gorgeous people just hand you free stuff where ever you go.” I teased her, even though I knew that this was purely a business thing. And I wasn’t a stranger to the act myself… it was becoming more and more common for women to send me drinks. Female empowerment certainly had perks.

I watched her move the beeper from one pocket to another and  try noy to let me see her do it… I could have told her that the thing was obnoxiously loud and we would probably hear it even from the Jeep. But she had relieved me of its burden and I was going to enjoy the weightlessness of it, so I pushed it to the back of my mind.

“Yeah, yeah.” I winked at her, keeping up the charade. “Business. Sure.”

I laughed. “Hey, you said they had good food… I’m just testing out a fair sample size of when they offer. And I ordered  vegetables” I smirked. “So I’m being good!”

I watched her sniff the beer but not drink it. “You know I don’t have the most discerning taste buds right? Especially not when it comes to alcohol?” I took the glass and took a healthy  mouthful. It was good… really good. Way better than anything in a can in my refrigerator. But still… I could why or what made it that way. It was beer… but a whole lot better. “Wow… I mean… This is great.” Then I did what she had and smelled it. “It even smells different from anything I’ve drunk before.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Like you’ve never been sent drinks for free.” Giving him an aimed look.

“Remember where you drink and remember who serves you.”

The pack were always sent drinks from the townies. Another reason why some night, they didn’t need to spend much for a night out. Not that any of us drunk at the bar for anything but to socialise. When we wanted to get drunk. It wasn’t done in public.

“The best thing is to try a little if everything. But then again, when you get something, you like. You’ll know.”

Raising my eyebrow. “Really? Vegetable?” Shaking my head “your idea and mine are very different on this subject.”

Picking up the glass of beer smirking I took a mouthful. Letting it sit before slowly swallowing it.

“You don’t need to know the ins and outs of beer tasting, Embry. I’m asking you as a consumer. If this was offered to you. Would you pay the extra two dollars for a pulled pint and not a bottle or a can.”

My eyebrows lifted at the smooth taste and how it grew after the fact. Holing the glass up to the light. “Jackson has been holding out on me.” I muttered. “The scent is like that because the way he blends it. There is rosemary in this batch.” I could taste it.

Out of the side of my eye, I saw #Jackson watching me with a grin on his face.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and winked at her. We both knew she was right… she hade witnessed it all for herself… and at the club, it was even more frequent… only I got to refuse under the guise of not being allowed to drink on the job… which was true but  also not enforced in the slightest.

“I mean corn is a…” I tilted my head, was it a vegetable when it was still on the cob? Or was it a grain no matter what? I needed to google that later. “Um… grey area… but the slaw has vegetables.” I  smirked and ignored the fact that it was completely smoothed in mayonnaise.

“For beer... I would for sure.” When I drank beer it was for the enjoyment of it not to get drunk, because that was next to impossible anyway. “In a bar, I always  prefer a pint over a bottle. And this stuff…” I took another mouthful and smiled. “Oh yeah… so worth it.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Has No nutritional value, it leaves your body in the same way it goes in because you cannot digest it. And let’s not even mention what it is covered in to made you want it even more. So, again… vegetables?”

Cocking my head to the side I raised my eyebrow. Sitting back my eyes were locked onto him, had I after all these years learn something new about him? “You would prefer a pint over a bottle? But…” I looked at the glass sat before me, and I shook my head. “So, if I gave you this beautiful glass. It would be a go. That’s good to know.”

Lifting the glass to my lips I took a long slow pull, making sure to take my time to let it linger before swallowing. It was a really good brew. Out of the side of my eye I saw our food coming our way.

‘I’ll bring your beers when you are ready.’

The waiter said as he started to set plates down between the two of us like we were sharing.

“Thanks” I said. Waiting until he was gone before correcting his mistake.

“They always think guys can eat more than women. Clearly not met the right kind of woman.”

•- Embry Call -•

“Hey, at least it clears out the pipes as it goes!” I smirked. Not a sexy lunch conversation… but she already knows how hot I’m, so it was all good. I nodded when she was (sort of) all business again.

I laughed at the way they set out the plates, but Leah said nothing… so neither did I. “Oh you are so sharing that Mac ’n’ Cheese… the only reason I didn’t order some is because I plan on tasting yours.” I laughed unapologetically and rubbed my hands together as I surveyed the  feast in front of us.

“Where oh where to being?” I grinned, sliced off a corner of the butter cube served with the corn and let it melt over the grill marks. “With the veg…” I ponder, stressing the word, but then I pick up the fork and sink into the meaty part of a rib and just as #MrHayes promise it falls right off the bone and I taste it…

I hardly have the mouthful swallowed before I say… “Damn… This is insanely good!”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I moved the Mac ‘n’ Cheese to the middle of the table. People knew to give me space. They knew one look from me could be devastating for them. But the part they always misjudged (and I let them), was that I was okay with sharing my food.

I had a kid brother, who always liked what was on my plate more that his own. So, it never phased me.

I snapped my teeth from time to time, to keep up the persona and reputation I had gained. (Because it meant those who were in the outside, remained there.) But if someone came for my food. I never stopped them.

As he sliced off the ribs. It would have been a good time to tell him. He didn’t order those. But again. I knew this was just the afternoon snack and pizza would be bought on the way home.

“It is good.”  I sliced off a rib from the other side of the rack letting the meat fall off the bone before forking it into my mouth.

“It’s never disappoints here. It’s why I come here.”

•- Embry Call -•

“I have to say…” I smirked at her. “I made a really good choice.” I chuckled as I started to taste a bite of everything. Making a note that she had willing shared the plate of Mac ‘N’ Cheese without a word. Or that snap a lot of the guys  got… but none of us got possessive over our food… at least not until it started to run out and even then, it was all in good fun. Maybe a little competition to see who was fast enough.

I tasted the chicken, then the chicken with the slaw… the fries the skin still on… then I bite of the burger that nearly floored me… “Oh wow… How did you find this place? Was it because you placed orders for the bar? Or did you start using them because you already knew it was here?” I asked  between bites and swallows; I did attempt not to speak with food in my mouth, but I wasn’t very successful. I continue the sampling making deeply approving sounds before settling on finishing the burger.

“This place really is a gem.” I  looked up at her… “Thanks for showing me one of your hideaways.” I smiled because I just knew.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Leaning back in the chair I took him in. Chewing on my mouthful much slower, knowing to take it easy because it was all really good. My lips curled up seeing and hearing his reactions. I knew that feeling well even if I didn’t show it as openly as Embry did. Then again. This was a Embry Call. Wearing his emotions for all to see. Be it over the pack, the pups, the imprints, Our moms, music, the day of the week…. Or food.

Once he had enough time to dig into it all and enjoy the experience I shifted forward, swallowing before speaking unlike some.

“A little of both. This place was going to be ribbed down. No one would rent the old boat factory. No one knew what to do with it. I think they were talking about putting up a strip mall to bring in the money. Until”

I pointed to the man flamboyantly speaking with his customers. “He had an idea. I started to hear about the possibility of him making beers here in site. Called to come check out one of his selections. That’s when I learnt about the second part of his plan.”

Taking another bite my chin moved to all the girls working here. “They are all from the woman’s shelter. All had a hard start to life. And he made this a safe place for them to work. He had the same work ethics the guys and I can relate to. The rest is… well.. history.” the glass I drained my beer. As the taster slider arrived.

“Tell anyone of this place and I will kick you in the balls.”

I said with a dead pan face. This was the second place he had come to that I liked. But the rules hadn’t changed.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned at her… knowing enough about the texture of pork that was this tender to know not to show teeth after eating as much as I had. No one was hot with meat scraps in their teeth. “Awesome… I love a good phoenix rising from the ashes story.” I smiled. “And barbecue and beer is the perfect combination. He’s made a hell of a go of it.” I turned then to look at the women, chatting happily as they worked, amongst themselves and the few patrons that were dotted around at  tables and the bar.

“I didn’t even know there was a shelter around here…” I lowered my voice… these women didn’t need to think they were being talked about. But luckily Leah and I didn’t need to hunch over tables to whisper. “Homeless… or…” I didn’t finish because… well it was pretty obvious.

I nodded and crossed my heart. Your secret is as safe as….” I paused… my secret-keeping wasn’t always the best. Not without the aid of my alpha. “As I can possibly keep it.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Not needing to follow his gaze because why? These women were working hard, making something of an opportunity. It wasn’t a handout. They had to work for their money.

Cutting into my ribs with a mouthful of macaroni, shrugging my shoulders. My voice was low.

“Does it matter. They are working, they know they can trust the people here. That’s all that matters, doesn’t it?”

Really not liking the fact that it felt like I was talking about these women as if they weren’t here.

Nodding my chin to the south west we sat. “There are two. A homeless shelter down off the main streets. And there is…” Now looking across the table.

“A woman’s shelter a little harder to find unless you know where to look. For obvious reasons.”

And those reasons if I ever came across them… would find a fist in their faces. No matter if I was a protector of humans. They weren’t worth protecting. Shoulders felt tight and stiff, and then when I looked down to the fork in my hand.

“Spirits!” Setting my knife down, cleaning the fork, keeping the evidence well hidden from sight, working to straighten out the bends of my fingers from the metal before continuing to eat.

•- Embry Call -•

I turned my gaze back to her and continued to eat. “Well… yeah. Because if it's a different kind of shelter then they need to have daytime security. People… well.. they’re the worst kinds of monsters.” I was still speaking softly. Things could get ugly fast if someone one of these women was hiding from found out about this place. Most bars only had Bouncers working in the late evening and night.

“I guess me not knowing about it means that they are doing their job right.” I nodded in agreement. Seeing what she did to that fork would have been hysterical, if it hadn’t been for the topic.

I knew I couldn’t get it… The culture of violence perpetrated by men against women since the dawn of time. So I didn’t  tell her I understood. I didn’t tell her I got how angry she was. It made perfect sense that she felt how she did… but no matter how angry I was… it didn’t come close. I “It’s okay, Trouble… These women… they made it. And today… that is what matters the most.” I kept my eyes on her… letting her know I saw her. and she could let all this out later… if she wanted to!

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm…”

The only reply he would get right now as I continue to control myself. Since being a hot-headed teen, time has taught me some hard lessons, some left a mark for a lifetime. Others lost with the time they had passed on by.

The temptation to act before thinking had gone and had been replaced with an evolution of who sat across from Embry now.

But, growth came with a price, and with a two way path. One moving forward, while the other took you back to the beginning. And I wasn’t ashamed to say. At times the anger still seeped out. I wasn’t perfect, but I was perfectly broken. Just how I liked it.

Keeping my chin up, but my eyes down on the food in front of me, a forkful in my mouth. Chewing slowly before I let my darkened brown eyes meet his. Seeing the unsaid word. Later.

“How’s the burger?” A clear sign to change the subject, picking mine up with one hand. Finding that perfect spot for the first bite I took it.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled and accepted the change of subject. If it was something she wanted to talk about again; she knew she could bring it up in a place where she could mangle as forks as she needed to. I picked up the burger and took another bite. The burger was amazing… not overcooked like ninety per cent of the barbeque I’d eaten in the past. “It's good... I swallowed the last of the food. “Like really, really good.” I nodded. “What about the mac ’n’ cheese?” I scooped up another forkful and got another taste.

I heard a comment from staff, standing by the bar about how 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕥𝕨𝕠 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕖𝕒𝕥 as they took in the half-eaten dishes all over the table. I just chuckled and focused on the conversation I was having. “And you have to try this chicken… It's incredible."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“The Mac ‘n’ cheese is always good here. Not as good as Ma’s, but good.”

My lips curled up into a smirk. “How times have changed.” Muttering the words. Because right now I wasn’t even blinking at how welcome he felt to my food.

Speaking as I chew my food and the thought. But putting something I was thinking into words like this. Another first for me.

“You know, before you wouldn’t have dared to touch me food.” Pointing my fork to his. “I’ve never stopped you lot...” the pack. “… from eating off my plate. But… no one other than the Kid of Mac has ever taken that step.”

It had never occurred to me. Even if I knew why.

Eyeing his chicken. “It looks good.”

I didn’t reach for it. Because I just couldn’t. I had never taken food off another person’s plate. Not even as a joke.

Because…

1. I didn’t joke like that.

B. I always knew/ felt they needed it more than me.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled widely. “I mean… it would be cruel to expect anyone to compete with #Sue’s recipes. But other than hers.. this is amazing.” I chuckled. My mom was never an amazing chef… in fact, her lasagne was probably the only thing she ever truly mastered. But still, in my head, her food was the best. And of course, that was the only comment that she ever heard about her cooking from my mouth… and her unofficially adopted sons.

I looked at her… confused. Was that true?

“Really?” I froze… My fork hovering in mid-air ready to scoop up more mac ’n’ cheese. “Are you….” I thought about it… searching back through barbecues, pack gatherings… family dinners when we were invited to the Clearwater’s… “Wow…” That made no sense. “You’re right… but we all… we always just…” We had all just helped ourselves to whatever we wanted. Heads were only ever butted over the last of something and even then, it was just messing around.

“I never even thought about it before…” I couldn’t understand it. “That’s so strange.” Was it another way we had consciously excluded her? another wall all of us had erected to keep her at arm's length?

I nudged the plate of chicken into the centre of the table. “Help yourself,” I said, offering her a smile, instead of placing some of it on her plate when I noticed her hesitation. I would let her reach out herself.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pushing the bowl of Mac ‘n’ cheese forward, another bite of the burger and it was gone. The meat so tender, the salad so fresh, the mustard and ketchup just the right amount. Spirits it was delicious.

Wiping my hands on the napkin my eyebrow raised seeing the way he moved the chicken towards me. Why was he doing that?

“I’m not complaining… just a realisation that came to me just now. That’s all.”

I pushed his plate back to his side of the table.

“You need it more than me, and this is your first visit.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket, but I didn’t reach for it. Picking up the beer I took the last of it down.

“That hit the spot.”

The mumbling comments made me smirk into the glass. This wasn’t the first time some of the staff had seen me here, but two of us. At the same time, with a table full of food that was being eaten. It was something to witness.

•- Embry Call -•

I swallowed the bite in my mouth. and nodded. “Yeah… me too… I have no idea why.. but then again… there are a lot of things about back then I still can’t understand.” I heard the buzz and noted how she ignored it.

I did lean forward now. “Leah… trust me when I say…” I motioned to all the food on the table. “I’m no in danger of starving… and I’m trying to make a gesture here. So try the damn chicken and help a guy out…” My eyes met hers and I added. Please.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

How eyes reminded me of bourbon, it was the first thought I had to push back, because those eyes… they were loaded, and firing in my direction.

Without breaking contact with his deep earth charged eyes, the fork was lifted. Filling it with a chuckle of the succulent meat, I brought it to my mouth and tried it.

“Spirits.” Chicken wasn’t always the first thing I ordered; most places dried it out. But Bells and Rivers! “Damn it’s good.”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled… I could see her searching my eyes the way I always searched hers. I laughed and turned my attention back to my food, because if she kept looking at me like that, I was going to do something crazy like launch across the table to kiss her.

“See, that wasn’t so hard... was it?” I smirked. And damn… I met those eyes again… “You really need to stop doing that.” I muttered with a chuckle, and it was unclear if I was talking to myself or her… maybe it was both of us.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow, while pushing the fork into a piece of chicken. ( it really was good, so juicy and delicious. )

Setting the fork down while I chewed and then picked up my empty glass and set it down.

“Stop doing what?” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me, but that low  it had to be one of us.

a waitress was over with the taster half pints, and I thanked her for her timing. That was another thing about this place. They knew how to keep you well feed and watered.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and flicked my eyes back up to her for a moment “Being…” I paused while the waitress place our drinks down and thanked her with a smile that made her lower her lashes. That worked even when I wasn’t trying too?

I looked back at Leah and wondered what words would work in this case… what words could I use to describe her. Being so gorgeous? Impossible to resisted? Kissable? All true but all descriptors to keep in the bubble.

“Being so… Intriguing” I smirked. “It  makes it… difficult… to behave myself.” I smiled at her against taking another bite of the chicken. “And I’ve been doing really well so far.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Eyebrow raised over the rim of the glass I sat back drinking the beer slowing but watching him.

The way that women reached to him wasn’t new. It had always made me roll my eyes because he was like a magnet to bunnies.

 But now it made me look to see if it was the warrior  or was it him. It was the same with all the pack, we all walked into a room and heads turned.

Sure, my heights and stature had a lot to do with it. We all had a demeanour that called to the work. We were spirits warriors after all. Protectors of people. So, they would be a pull for them to come. But they didn’t know what that pull meant. And things lead to… well... you know…

But now I could past it all because I wanted too. Because I wasn’t keeping my walls up around them. And him… more so.

“Intriguing….” I agreed, but I meant him not me. “You have been behaving. What’s your secret?” My lips curled up into a half smile just for a second before the walls were back up again.

•- Embry Call -•

She was watching me now and I wasn't sure why... for signs that I was, in fact, misbehaving? Maybe? But I was being good.... other than the last comment... and that was vague as fuck. So as far as I was concerned, I was golden, thank you  very much.

"Oh, the very real threat of an arse whooping is the only thing keeping me in check." I smirked and moved my attention back to the burger. I mean it was mostly true, apart from the 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 part. But Is she didn't think that part of it was also a deep-seated respect... alongside the fact that we both wanted the same thing she wouldn't be here in the first place... so a little exaggeration was fair game.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Before I could reply to him, out of the side of my eye I saw #JacksonHayes making his way across the bar towards us.

‘So, what is the verdict, young man?’

The question had been directed to Embry, with a nod to the empty dishes, as well as his burger before him. The man always like to check in with new customers, gain feedback and took know of what was said.

Internal I smiled, because any feedback I got at #HwH would be met with a look that made the giver know they were only alive, because I didn’t want to put in the effort of hiding a body.

I took the opportunity to check the text messages that came in.

The guys were excited to try something new from the brewery. Telling me that the last order was well received by the townies.

•- Embry Call -•

I swallowed the bite in my mouth before speaking, this man was far too well put together to speak to with a mouth full of burger. “The verdict?” I smiled and pointed to the dishes all either finished or mostly finished. “Are these your  recipes? Because if they are… My mom is single… and very pretty.” I chuckled and looked up at him from where we sat.

He laughed. ‘Well, that’s high praise coming from a man your age. Though I’m sure what your Mother would think.’

“Oh, she’d be cool with it.” I chuckled. “She likes cooking. But she like eating a lot more and this food is amazing though… really.” I glanced around the bar-come-restaurant. “It’s a great place, good vibe, good food.” I picked up the beers and swigged. “Great beer too! And that’s a high compliment coming from me… I’m normally a whiskey kinda guy.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

‘If we can gain the thumbs up from a whiskey man. Then I will take it.’

#Jackson turned his dark eyes in me. ‘Feel free to bring this one back again Leah. I like him.’

Rolling my eyes, I pushed my phone back into my pocket.

“Don’t be fooled jury because you  finally found someone who wants to call you Daddy, Jackson. He would called anyone who feeds and waters him that.”

The full belly laughter that came from the tall man made me smirk.

‘Is she always this charming..’ he side mouthed Embry. ‘Or do I bring it out of her?’ Rolling my eyes, with the beer in my hand to take a sip of.

“You wouldn’t know what to do with me if I was ever nice to you. I’m saving you a heartache. Trust me.”

He laughed again looking to Embry and then back to me. Nodding his chin to the beer. “Ten…” I told him. “But I need a better price. Right now… only the townies and fools with money are drinking it. I only want to serve items everyone can afford. Especially my locals.”

He shook his head. ‘You don’t even want to digest your food before talking business?’ - Shrugging my shoulders. “Places to be. Things to do. And I’ve finished my food.” Pointing over to Embry. “He is a slow eater.”

Mulling over what I told him. ‘Let me work it out. Enjoy the rest of the beer.’

Winking at Embry. ‘Next time bring your mom with you.’ And then he was gone.

“Ms C would have a field day with you for that.”

•- Embry Call -•

I pointed a thumb towards #Jackson and smiled at Leah… “He likes me.” I said smugly. So far all of the people we had seen today that Leah clearly respected; had liked me. That had to count for something right?

I laughed and looked up at  the man standing by the table. “Oh yeah… always was. But she’s got a soft centre in there somewhere just like us all. But she left out the part where I'm highly protective of my Mom….. only the best will do. But a good feeling about you.” Something twinged in me when she said she was saving him heartache.. like she thought that letting him see that side of her would lead to pain. It was a lonely path to walk.

I shook my head and let her talk business. “It's not slow!” I  said in my defence. “It’s savouring!”

I waved at him as he left the table. “Trust me… If I keep food like this a secret from my Mom she would have my head.”

“Wasn’t it your day off?” I teased her after #Myhayes took his leave.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“He likes you because he doesn’t know you. Yet.”

Saying it with a dead pan look on my face, and daring him to disagree with me. Because we all knew he would.

Embry Call was born with something that just pulled people towards him, and the more time I spent like this with  him, the more I saw it in action first hand.

“You should bring your mom. She would have then all eating out of her hands.” Because she was the person he got his superpower from.

Lost in thought for a moment or two, it had been a day to think over so much today.

Shaking myself out of it, raising my eyebrow at him.

“What do you mean? If course it’s my day off today.”

Pointing to myself and then our surroundings as if it proved the point I was making

•- Embry Call -•

I narrowed my eyes at her and chuckled. But it was a fact that my first impression was my best… My long-term one was where things normally fell apart.

“Well, I figured when you threatened me not to tell anyone you weren’t including my Mom.” I laughed. “And she loves a little intrigue… so she’ll keep your secret too.” I didn’t really mind keeping things from Mom as long as I didn’t have to lie. There were already enough things I had to lie to her about in my life. So when it came to other things … I tended to come clean.

“You making a business deal is technically working right?” I chuckled. “I mean I totally approve of the efficient use of time and all… but call it what it is… working gi—“ I stopped myself “Women.” I grinned and winked at her. I finished the last of my chicken and washed it back with the beer. “Damn this is good stuff!”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Narrowing my eyes at him, it was a good save. But it didn’t stop me from kicking him under the table still.

“I wouldn’t ask you to lie to your mom. I wouldn’t ask you to lie full stop. I don’t do it. So…” why would I ask him to do it.

My heart tightens for a moment when I  thought about the bubble. And how he was keeping them from those he cared for. Me.. it was something normal, no one questioned my comings and goings

As much as they all wanted to know it all. But him. They all had a different relationship. And was I keeping him from telling  the truth? And was that the same as making him lie?

“Spirits.”

Rubbing my temple I caught #Jackson out the side of me eyes. I showed me two sets of tens on his hands and I understood. He could do me a deal if I bought twenty from him. Sending him back fifteen as the best I could do. He gave me the thumbs up. And the deal was done.

“Right. Are you ready to get out of here?” I asked.

•- Embry Call -•

“I know.” I smiled at her. “You wouldn’t, but not mentioning something isn’t exactly lying though.”

I saw those bright eyes dim a little and I stopped… wondering… what was she thinking that had her calling to the Spirits. I tried the figured it out as she made her deal with #MrHayes. Maybe I would get a chance to ask her later when it was just to two of us.

I nodded and picked up my jacket from the back of my chair. “Ready and almost willing…” I chuckled. This place served great food… I would definitely be back. “Anything else you want to do before heading back to the print shop?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Picking up my jacket, pulling it on as I made my way around the table.

“Hmm?” Shaking my head. “No, I’ve nothing else to do. This was an added bonus as I had no plans to be here until next week.”

Embry had been the one to bring me along with him. “You? Anything you need to do before we head. Ack to the store?”

Moving the small device back to the inside pocket of my jacket. I made my way to the bar and cleared our tab before nodding my goodbyes to the staff and #Jackson.

‘Always a pleasure, Miss Clearwater.’ “So, I’m told by all the fools.” I smirked leaving through the main doors.

•- Embry Call -•

“No… I think we have covered everything… Other than the pizza on the ride home.” I grinned because that was not to be forgotten. I patted my pockets when Leah was saying her goodbyes to Jackson. But then I saw her shift the beeper back into her pocket from her jeans after she stood up… I felt the sense of relief again that made my heart rate stutter a little and draw a deeper breath than normal. It was a freeing… almost weightless feeling. Not to be free of the burden of it…

Mom wasn’t a burden… but to feel 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 kind of support… it tugged on chords that were buried deep.

“Thank you very much, Mr Hayes.” I smiled as we headed out.

‘You are very welcome. I hope we’ll see you again soon.’ He smiled. ‘Don’t  let that one walk all over you.’ He winked at me.

“Why not?” I winked back. “That’s the fun part.” He chuckled, shaking his head.

‘Looks like she’s finally met her match.’ He said, but we were almost at the door so I assumed he was  talking to himself. I could hear the smile in his voice without looking back.

“You wanna drive again?” I asked her as we stepped out in the salty and smoky air. The combination was strange and highly appealing.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my eyes at the conversation taking place behind my back. My ears homed in in the change of his heart and then I found myself listening to everything about him. His laughter, his breathing, his heart of course and the way his feet hit the ground. Trying to find a reason for what had occurred. But when I couldn’t find one I turned to look back at him over my should as we walked across the parking lot towards his jeep.

“Sure, I could drive.” I was never one to push for answers or question anyone. But I wanted to know. “Are you okay? You.. hmm.. your heart… it…” he must have heard and felt it himself?

•- Embry Call -•

I tossed her the keys again and smiled, stuffing my hands back into my jacket pockets; drawing her attention. She never missed a trick. The slightest change and she was tuned in. “I’m fine, Trouble.” I chuckled, breathing easy. And while  the line was normally a cop out everything on my posture and expression conveyed its truth.

“I was just…” How could I say this in a way that wouldn’t sound like I was thanking her? Because I knew it wasn’t something, she would want thanks for… if anything it was something she would see as her responsibility. It wasn’t of course, but this was Leah. I had learned enough about her to know how she saw these things

She was Beta, I was in her pack and I was struggling with  something… something that was beyond anyone else’s control… something she couldn’t fix, or help me fix. So, all that could be done was to ease the situation, so… she was now carrying my mother’s lifeline in her pocket… just so I could take  a few deep breaths.

“Taking a moment to appreciate your help today…” My smile grew. “I needed it more than I knew…” I stopped myself from adding Thank You… it was an instinct. Acknowledging or accepting help hadn’t ever been something I struggled with… unless it involved money. “Honestly… The best day off I have had in a while if I’m honest. I’m really glad you’re here.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Catching the keys in the air with on hand, twisting the ring into my fingers as I read the moment. That I hadn’t expected from him, here and now at all. So, I tilted my head to the side and looked at him. 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 looked. Passed that smile, the chuckles, the laughter, and the grins. Again, surprised at seeing… it was the truth. He was telling me the truth.

He knew what I thought of lying, but he also knew I was the queen of misinformation and misdirection. Some of the pack picking up pointers and trying to use my own superpowers  on me at times. But this, here. It wasn’t that. They didn’t thank me, who he’s saved me from punching him in the face, but at the same time, I knew what he was trying to say. The weight of what he was feeling hadn’t been missed by me. It was why I had asked to help carry it on my shoulders today, so he could… well.. not have a day off. There were no days off with your family. But just… I didn’t know… I didn’t have his skill with words.

“Keeping this up and people will think I’ve gone soft. Now what will that do  for my reputation Embry Call?”

With the hat said, we were in his Jeep, and pulling out of the parking lot, with me glancing at him from time to time.  Changing the subject on him. “Do you think I can made that guy cry this time?” As I turned off the Main Street back towards the print store.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed. “No one would ever accuse you of going soft.” I climbed into the Jeep, pulled the seatbelt across my body and murmured. “To your face.” Just low enough for her to hear, then I watched her closely; anticipating a slap or punch in  the arm. I flashed her a cheeky smile.

“How about we make it a goal to 𝕟𝕠𝕥 make anyone cry today?” I chuckled. “I know that it’s a wild concept. But let’s try something new… That’s been working well for us lately.”

I knew that a lot of people looked at both of us as the type to spend our days doing exactly what she’d teased… at least people outside of those we cared about. It was an image I had carefully crafted and one that was thrust upon her. But, of course, it wasn’t true. I couldn’t speak to why she let the image stand… she had her own motivations just like I had mine. “And don’t worry about your reputation… I won’t tell a soul… whether there are tears or not.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Reaching out I smacked him upside his head. “I heard that, and you know I did.” The roads were a little busier now, however nothing to cause us any trouble on route back to the printing store.

“Why are you always trying to show me new ways?” Thinking about it. “Use your words, Leah.” I spoke.

“Don’t make anyone cry.” I said without taking my eyes off the road. “Next you will tell me not to keep the pups in line.”

Looking at him from the side of my vision as I drove. His trust in handing me the keys didn’t surprise me. But still I had to think about how he made anything work for him. The day was unplanned, and he made it work. Whereas me? I would need a plan to see it through to the end.

Parking up across the street from the printing store. “So, no tears. Just a big smile?” Giving him a dead pan look, to say ‘yeah right.’

•- Embry Call -•

“Ow!!” I exaggerated, rubbing the back of my head, and running my fingers through my hair. “Don’t mess with the hair. All I can do is show you the paths I know… after that, you can choose to walk one or… do what you normally do and forge  your very own.” I smiled, every piece of information that she took in informed her future actions but never changed her way of doing things.

I laughed and looked at her. “Oh well, I never said that! You could make him pee his pants? That  would be entertaining for everyone.” I chuckled… “Maybe not for him.”

I climbed out of the Jeep. “I’m sure they’ve gotten everything fixed, then we just head to the car wash and the rest of the day is wide open.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Drama Queen.” Rolling my eyes for about the millionth time, before climbing out. This time I put the keys in my pocket. I wasn’t going to give them back to him. Not yet any way. Which was evolved for me. Normally I would never keep something that belonged to another like this.

“I can be nice. Sometimes. Maybe. Fine. Who am I kidding.”

My head I could imagine seeing #TheGreatWolf shaking his head, telling me I should know better, and then whipping the back of my head with wind hard. Good times! This time I had parked on the correct side of the street, so walking around to the pavement.

My hands pushed into the pockets of my jacket, my eyes on the store front I made my way in.

•- Embry Call -•

“Drama King!! If you don’t mind.” I smirked. I noticed that she’d held onto the keys this time, but I didn’t let on. It hadn’t come to my notice because it bothered me… it made more sense for her to hang onto them. It meant I didn’t need to  keep offering them to her, knowing she was more comfortable driving when she needed to be in a car. It just wasn’t her usual behaviour… it was a good thing, she had accepted the fact that she was as welcome to the Jeep as any of the pack was. It was a bigger step than I think even she knew.

I pulled open the door before I realised what I had done, distracted by my inner monologue. She might well kill me for a perceived act of chivalry… “Age before beauty?” I grinned, saving myself with sarcasm… That was likely worth a punch in the arm; as opposed to the kick in the balls opening a door for her might get me. Plus… she was older than me… barely. But still.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“King? Aren’t we a little precious about our title today.” It was sarcasm, of course. Calling him a queen was more fun, because let’s face it. I knew I would get a reaction from it. I froze at the door with my hands dropped out of my pockets ready to push the door open. But this? He thought it was a good idea to act like I was some damsel in distress.

‘You know, some would say it’s out of respect, out of care, out of friendship even. He knows you don’t need a man to hold your door open. But is it so terrible to have a friend, do it?’ She was awake and watching again. And I disliked her having a point, one I wasn’t going to acknowledge now.

And then came the comment. Making her cringe. ‘I take it back.’ She muttered. ‘Maybe I’m wrong about this one.’ She huffed and I smirked internally. Walking past him, I smacked him upside the head. Hard enough that the sound rang in the store and the boy from before, jumped out of his skin.  ‘Welcome back Miss Clearwater. Your order is ready for you to sign off.’

•- Embry Call -•

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist…” I teased. “We all know the Queen is really the one in charge.” I watched the look in her eyes change at my joke and laughed… until. “Ow!!” It didn’t hurt, of course, I fixed my hair again. Sticking my  foot out to catch her ankle. Just a little.. to make her stumble but not fall.

The look on the printer's face said. 𝒜𝓌𝑒𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒! 𝒫𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻𝒻 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝐼 𝓉𝒶𝓁𝓀 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓇. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝒹𝓊𝒹𝑒! After the stunned look from her slap had worn off at least.

I was about to ask to see it before we signed off on anything, but he had addressed Leah and not me. I didn’t want to speak for her. So, I waited to follow her lead.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

One foot caught as the other found the ground making my balance off just enough to be caught and I growled snapping my teeth at him.

“Akanesdi!” (Arsehole!) The word out before I could stop myself.

“Nihi wili aguyvdi nasginai!” ( You will pay for that!) I knew he didn’t understand, and I wanted him to know that I would come for him. “When you won’t see it coming.”

The guy behind the counter took a few steps back as I stepped up to him. ‘I have everything here laid out. I knew you would want to see it all again.’ His shaking hand held out a flyer, and the banner had been rolled out for me to look over.

Taking me time, going half way down into the box of flyers I took a few out to see what was on them. He has fixed, printed, and stacked them all the way they should have been done in the first place.

•- Embry Call -•

I knew that first one very well and I flashed her a grin that let her know that I did. But what she said after it was beyond my highly limited knowledge of the language. Then she made it clear in English… I was going to pay... but I still  thought I was better off than if she’d thought I’d opened the door to be chivalrous.

I dragged my hand through my hair tousling it a little and very subtly licked my bottom lip.. just to make her forget she was plotting revenge for a second. I open the picture #Sue sent me again and set my phone on the counter next to the flyers since that was where the problem was the last time. I instinctively started looking for the issues Leah had pointed out, but then checked the rest too in case they foolishly changed something that had previously been right.

I looked up at Leah. “What do you think? Will the Boss be happy?” I smiled at her, clearly meaning her Mom.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Of course. Of course, he would understand the foul language, but the good stuff? Nope. What was it with guys and their ability to pick up of the crap before the good? “May I?”

Taking his phone, I gave it a good look and then over the work we had the young guy redo, then I stepped back content with the outcomes. Setting Calls phone back down, noticing how he was doing the same as me, however with a finer tooth comb. Which I wasn’t sure could be done.

“Hmm… I think she will be.”

Turning the invoice around to see that Ma had paid for the job in advance.

I sighed and shook my head. “I need to talk to her about the hat again.” It wasn’t the first time we had talk on paying a deposit v the full amount.

“Go ahead and pack it all up. We want to take it all with us now.” I told the guy, turning to lean on the side of the counter.

•- Embry Call -•

I nodded to her when she asked if she could take my phone… like my jeep, I wasn’t massively private about my phone. Which was why I had to delete so many of the messages Leah and I shared. I knew that the guys would go into my messages but  still, it was a risk, and becoming private about it now would be a giveaway that something was happening.

I chuckled to myself at Leah’s comment about her mom paying up front. I knew she was right… but she used this place a lot by the sounds of it, so I figured she trusted them. Maybe the mix-up today wasn’t a regular occurrence? At least… I hoped not.

The guy behind the counter started boxing everything up. When I thought he wasn’t listing I looked at Leah and waggled  my brows. “You are looking forward to the guys on the Rez getting all soapy for the car wash?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My attention reminded on the work that was taking place before my eyes. There wasn’t going to be any letting up until what Ma needed was safely in Embry’s Jeep. Until that is he had to speak. Giving him a sideways glance with a roll of my eyes and then they return to the guy working.

“If you think I’m going to be there, you got another thing coming. I told the Kid, he and Mac help outside. I remain indoors.

I think I see more than enough on a daily basis of them all shirtless.” Saying that, they also saw me running around the woods in my shots and sports bras. But that wasn’t the point. I got my arse dressed they just didn’t bother.

‘All done Miss Clearwater. Everything you need is in the boxes. I’ve added some stickers too. To support the event.’

My face remained dead pan.

‘Let me help carry it to the car for you.’ He was shifting on his feed, looking uncomfortable now.

“1. Thank you for redoing these and fixing the mistakes.

B. It is kind of you to create the stickers, I’m sure they will be used.

And

3. It is fine. I… We… can manage from here.” He looked shocked at me. Nodding he gave me a tentative smile. Asking us to come back if we needed anything more.

•- Embry Call -•

I rolled my eyes. “Please! You know you’ll be out that making sure every car that leaves is pristine, so the Rez keeps its good reputation!”

I tried not to laugh at the guy when he offered to carry the stuff to the car… I knew it was purely to look good to Leah. I stacked to boxes, tucked the rolled-up banner under my arm and lifted the boxes the Leah hadn’t.

“Don’t worry.” I winked at the guy. “I brought muscle along to help with the job.” I nodded to Leah carrying  more than what this clearly thought she was capable of.

I shouldered the door and made my way outside holding it open with my foot. “Don’t kill me… neither of us have spare hands right now so it just makes sense!”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I have cameras in the parking lot. I don’t need to be stood there to know the job is being done.”

Was I that transparent? How was this man seeing past all the walls I built up over the years?

‘Because they are coming down around him.’ My wolf whispered to unasked question. “Shut up.” Rolling my eyes at his killing comment. While walking towards his jeep, I shook my head.

“As if I would kill you in front of witnesses. It’s like you don’t even know the basics rules of getting away with murder.” The balancing act came when the door needed to  be opened. Placing everything on one arm, manoeuvring the things I managed to open it and set the boxes inside.

•- Embry Call -•

I rolled my eyes… “Sure, sure! I forgot that sitting on the side-lines was totally your style.” I chuckled, the sarcasm was laid on thick. “It's actually one of your sexiest qualities.”

I watched her with the doors and the boxes, the way  she shuffled them around to get them open. “I take it back… that right there is your sexiest quality. The side-line thing just got bumped to second place.” I slid my boxes in after hers and set the rolled-up banner on top of them.

“All we gotta do now is hot the car wash and I will have done Sue proud.” I grinned like I had done it all myself. I headed around the Jeep to hop into the passenger seat.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Stunned into frozen silence while my brown eyes followed him around to the passenger side of the jeep.

“Did you just….” No it wasn’t possible, or was it? This was Embry Call, of course he did.

“I have no idea how to even reply to that.” Moving around to the driver side I climbed  in. “I’m not even sure if this should result in you being punched into next month or not.”

Sexy? These were the things he found sexy in a woman, and yes, of course his sarcasm was dripping so heavily that I was sure people would be coming with shovels to mop his  crap up.

“You’re going to end up in ocean. Just because I can push you in and stay standing to tell the story.”

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed. “Shock and confusion. I tend to have that effect on women. Along with a few other things.” I winked at her because she was aware of what some of those other things were.

I smiled at her and buckled my seatbelt. “If I remember right… the last time that happened we both ended up in the ocean and a good time was had by all.” I grinned, remembering the rush, the roaring laughter of the pups and the climb back up the side of the cliff.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“It’s not something you should be proud of; the confusion is enough to make me smack you upside your head.”

The other things… I wasn’t thinking of them outside of the bubble. Turning the key in the ignition, with a mother of all rolls of my eyes. “The only reason you lived to tell the story is because of the pups.”

It flashed before my eyes. That moment I pulled my top off and saw the look in his eyes. And then we both went flying.

•- Embry Call -•

I smirked at her expression… she was so much better at controlling her thoughts outside the bubble. But as long as I wasn’t the one to pop it; I considered it a win.

“I’ve never had any complaints…” I grinned and laughed at her comment  about the pups.

“The pups are the only reason I had the balls to chance it in the first place, Clearwater.” I chuckled. “I might be a little reckless… but I definitely don’t have a death wish! And without the witnesses?” I smirked. “My outlook could have been in question…”

I double-checked my messages from #Sue even though I knew we only had one thing left to do today. “So just the car wash left and then we’re all set.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Giving him a death look (that somehow didn't have the same amount of 𝔻𝔼𝔸𝕋ℍ in it as it used to. Something of course I’d need to fix in due time. )

"The car wash for the supplies? Has Ma given you a list of that she is expecting from this place?" We hit the road, after I glanced back once to make sure everything, we'd just picked up was safely in place in the back.

The drive really didn't take long, I didn't know if it was because I was driving, or if it had something to do with the distraction Embry had become. Seeing him so at ease in his jeep made me think. I had to figure this thing out. Just not today.

Before I knew it, we were pulling up outside of the car wash who had offered up for free supplies for the event being run on the Rez.

"Is there a name of the person we need to speak with here?"

•- Embry Call -•

I tried to act like the glare didn’t affect me… but my Adam’s apple bobbed as I tried to hide a nervous swallow.

I dove into the subject change. “She said the promised buckets, sponges and cloths… shampoo and wax and things like that, but she didn’t have a list or anything. She said anything they were willing to donate would be a big help. So, she told me to use my charm and see what I could convince them to part with.” I smiled at her. This was the real reason she’d sent me; it wasn’t just women the was good at charming.

I unbuckled my seatbelt when she parked. “The guy we're looking for is called Danny.” I caught her gaze across the car. “Let’s take our time here… we aren’t in a rush, right?” I smirked at  her, because I had a plan.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“And now it all falls into place. Of course, Ma would call Embry Call for the charm.”

My voice neutral as I said it. It didn’t matter to me why Ma called him and not me to help today. But it was the not know that bugged me. And now I had my answer.

“She wanted her ace in  the hole for this job.”

And she wasn’t going to get that with me. Well, she could. But it would make me want to shower for a week and scrub my skin raw to get the bad taste of being nice for something off me.

Rolling my tongue over my teeth, I sat back to look at him.

“You have the run of this one. I am here to watch and learn.” Okay. Maybe not the learning part. “You want us to take our time at a car wash? Are you planning on getting the jeep cleaned?”

There was that look in his eyes. The one that told me, something was coming together in his mind.

•- Embry Call -•

“Your Mom always picks the right guy for the job. You know that.” I chuckled. I nodded as she mentioned taking our time, the contemplation on her face was exactly what I was going for. Then tilted my head… intrigued at the idea of having the jeep washed. “That might actually be a great plan!” I grinned and looked around, getting the lay of the land.

I spotted three guys starting work on a large crew cab pickup truck. I nodded to Leah to follow me and approach the lads washing the truck, instead of walking into the reception as people would expect.

“Hey, guys.” I said over the sounds of power washers. “I was asked by the tribal council up in La Push to pick up a donation… I was told to ask for Danny?” I stuffed my hands into my pockets.

‘Oh! Yeah, yeah, yeah… #Dani’s up in the office, we set out a bunch of good stuff this morning.’ One guy stepped away from the truck and pointed back up the lot. ‘Right up there… you can’t miss it, brother.’

I knew instantly that this guy’s father’s, sister-in-law’s cousin’s uncle was Native American… so naturally he was too. I expertly held back my cringe. It wasn’t my place to question his family tree and frankly… I didn’t much care.

I headed up to the small building with ‘Reception’, on the door that the guys had called an office. When I stepped inside there was only one person in there and it was not a guy called Danny at all… It was a girl with Dani scrawled prettily on a name label stuck to the front of a fleece sweater. A sweater she started nervously tugging at when she spotted me and then Leah.

‘Welcome! May I help you?’ She said, coming up to the counter between us.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hmm…” Is all the reply he would get on the comment about my Ma, because we both knew it to be true. She knows how to make people shine, showing them the best parts of themselves. When it came to the Pack, it felt like she knew these boys better than they understood themselves at their low points.

Keeping my distance to give Embry the space he needed to speak to the men, my dark eyes moved around. The gravel to the sides, where the water rolled down showed the uneven surface. The tarmacked lot, where cars and trucks were serviced, gave a good eyeline down the streets and out to the back of the space too. The small building that could do with a little TLC, that looked like the hub of the business had somewhat of a strong structure but wouldn’t take much to bring down. Three windows to the front, the door, from the way the shadows worked, I would have expected another window to the side out of my eyeline.

It was an open area, the building to the left was at a distance, and to the right. Well as it had a “To Let” sign on the window. It could become an issue.

‘There are no scents in the air.’ My wolf on watch with me. She had given up a long time ago from stopping me. These were steps I needed to take, to make me feel ready, to be the protector, and there was no turning it off.

“No Scents.” I agreed before following Embry up past the men working on the truck. Their eyes followed, especially the one who called Embry ‘Brother.’ However, they didn’t act on their thoughts.

‘Not every man.’ my wolf chuckled. What a tag line that had become for our times.

The scent of daisy blossoms, fresh shampoo and chewing gum hit me before I was at the building. As I bent my head a little bit while stepping in behind Embry, coming to a stop with the woman’s eyes on me. It didn’t take me long to look her over, without seeming as I was checking her out. Which made my lips curl up into a smirk.

Dani not Danny

Her hands worked the fabric of her fleece sweater, making me tilt my head to the side. Both my wolf and I thought together; however, she voiced it first.

‘She is two spirited.’ The glint in her eyes at seeing Embry at first sped her heart up, and then when her eyes met mine, she shied away, biting her lips, still working her jumper with a pink glow in on her pale skin.

‘Oh, this will be interesting to see. Where is my popcorn? The girl seems sweet, will his charm work, or… will she run?’ She asked me and I just mentally shrugged. This would be one to watch, so I did. Leaning on the wall, with my hands pushed deep into my jacket pockets. One hand working around the small device in there, the other fisted tightly waiting.

•- Embry Call -•

I knew that Leah was taking in all possible threats… It had to be exhausting to be that hyper-aware all the time. Even with the energy level of a Spirit Warrior. I leaned on the counter and smiled at the unexpected Dani... I was certain that the #Sue had implied was to meet a guy here… But I’m sure she had her reasons. “I have no doubt that you can help us.” I smiled and her eyes darted nervously to me and back to Leah. I straightened up, just in case I was the cause of her nervousness. “We here on behalf of the Quileute Council in La Push. One of our Elders told us, you guys would be able to help us out with our car wash fundraiser?”

She smiled but looked right past me to Leah again, brightening a little. The penny dropped… flirting hadn’t been my plan, but I was nothing if not adaptable. ‘Oh, sure, sure!’ Dani smiled. ‘You must be Ms Sue’s son. Such a sweet lady.’ She reached under the counter and pulled out a set of keys.

I smiled and placed my hand on my chest. “Oh no… But I’m lucky to have had her as my second Mom… But right here.” I turned and held my hand out to Leah. “Is Ms Sue’s only daughter.” Dani came out from behind the counter and squeezed past me to head to the door Leah was leaning next to. The girl's heart sped up a little… hmm… maybe it wasn’t Leah making her fidget.

‘Oh!’ She flushed and tugged on the hem of her sweater and stopped in front of Leah and looked like she might offer her hand but seemed to rethink the action. ‘It's so nice to meet you.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Why don’t you guys come with me and I can show what we’ve gotten laid out for you all?’ She pulled the door open and motioned for Leah to head out in front of her and I gave her a look that said to play nice…

Leah wouldn’t discriminate between men or women… she just didn’t like people doing for her what she could do for her herself.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Chewing the insides of my cheeks to stop from smiling, my head tilted to the side as I took Embry in. What was it with this man, people always mistakenly said he looked like Ma’s son.

‘It’s his kindness. And they don’t know his mom. If they did. There is no way they would have any doubt about who his mom is.’ My wolf makes a good point.

I raised my eyebrow at Call when he gave me that bloody 𝕃𝕠𝕠𝕜 of his. What did he think I would do to this little human? Throw her across the room? This was the moment my wolf showed me what I did to the last persons who opened the door for me.

“Spirits.” I muttered underneath my breath. Telling my wolf, I was evolving. And the look I gave Embry saying…

I Know how to behave Arsehole!

Giving the girl a small nod of my head. “It’s a pleasure.” I didn’t say whose pleasure, so… more growth if you ask me. Taking two long steps I was outside and stepped to the side to let the Dani lead the way.

‘It’s such a good cause, your mom called to tell me all about it. We are so glad to be able to help.’ #Dani was a nervous talker by the looks of it.

“Ma has her way to make sure good is being done all the time. Her and Embry’s mom.” My chin pointed to him. “Ms. Call have been working on this plan for some time now. It’s with support from businesses like yourselves that it is possible.”

My hands remained in the pockets as she looked back to Embry and her cheeks were a deeper red in colour.

Dani walked us to a store room passing the men we had seen before meeting her. ‘Here we go.’ Unlocked the door she pushed it open and turned a light on. ‘Everything we have set out here on the table is yours to take. And if there is anything more, we can do?’

Without missing a best, I asked. “Is there any change we could borrow that portable polish unit? I can see it’s missing a few parts. I’m sure I could have that fixed.”

Her eyes moved around the room to the corner where the small machine sat. ‘Oh. Uhm. I’d have to ask… give me a second, I’ll be right back.’

As soon as she stepped out, I said. “We could charge a little more for a polish finish to the washes, right? And the pups will be able to fix those broken piles?”

•- Embry Call -•

She gave me that death stare of hers only now… it was kinda sexy… before it was a little bit scary. Okay… terrifying.

“Those ladies really work hard for the community. It’s the least we can do to come and help them out.” I greed with Leah when she explained hoe hard our moms worked. I knew that my mom was feeling guilty that she wasn’t helping as much as she used to. But she knew that Sue would never hold it against her… and if the roles were reversed, neither would Mom. They held their friends up, and never let them fall.

My brow raised at Leah… maybe she was better at this negotiating/charm thing than she got credit for. “Thank you, Dani.” I said as she left the room.

“You’re good at this.” I smiled and checked out the unit she’d pointed to. “I think this thing can be saved… if the pups can’t I’m sure Jake or Quil could. If we put Fuller and Littlesea on polishing it would definitely elevate the event… those kids are perfectionists. Do two cars for free and everyone will be lining up for theirs.”

I moved to stand next to Leah and smirked. “You know she was checking you out, right?” I whispered.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I know I am; how do you think we have top shelf products at #HwH at affordable prices for everyone to enjoy?”

People always seemed to forget that I wasn’t just the muscle at the bar, I had more than one job and I did them all well. “Hmm… Jake and Quil could do it no problems, but if we ask the pups, it will help them see we are going to them first and not just the OGs. Give them a reason to step up and shine. And if you tell them, it’s for MsC and Ma….”

Those kids would do anything for all the moms. They were good kiddos.

I looked around at all the things #Danni had pointed out for us to take. It was a good haul as it was. But if we offered to…. The thought stopped and I rolled my eyes at him. Did he think I was blind. “She was doing the same to you, until she saw me.” Smirking a little. “Who can blame her, have you seen me? I’m a once in a lifetime kind of a woman to taste.”

Smacking him upside his head I walked over to a rolled-up banner. Opening it to find the business name on it.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled and shook my head. “As long as you keep the Irish stuff in stock I won’t complain.”

I gave her a nod. “I agree, let them work it out first, and if they can’t we teach them. Those boys would bend over backwards for those ladies and then thank them for the honour.” I smiled. “You know one the young pups… really young… lives next, can’t tell mom we know each other than being neighbours… he cuts Mom’s lawn every other week and tells her that his mother gives him  extra dessert for being neighbourly.” I laughed.

I grinned at her when she confirmed the girl was indeed checking me out too… I hadn’t been sure if I was picking up her nervousness from being around Leah. “Well, that explains why she wanted to know if we were related. She’s clearly got great taste.” I winked.

Danni bustled back into the room with a grin. ‘So… I just spoke to my dad, and he said if you think you guys can fix this thing you can absolutely use it for your event… but he does seem to think it's unsalvageable and he’s been running this place for years and years.’

I just smiled at her. “My friends and I have kept the wrangler running since I was seventeen and it's as old as I am, I’d bet my  favourite boots we can get this going with some good old-fashioned tribal engineering.”

Danni flashed me a smile, and then looked to Leah and turned crimson again. “So, this a family business?” I said when her staring became a little much. “Leah here… and her brother… they have a family business of their own too.”

Danni stutter. ‘Oh… wow… really? That’s amazing… My Dad started this place when I was still a baby… I just work here on weekends to pay for college.’

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“As long as you pay for the Irish stuff, it will be there.” That wasn’t totally the truth. I knew that all the pack members over the age of 21 liked to drink and made sure it was kept behind the bar for them. It had been one of the reasons we worked so hard to open #HwH. #TheKid wanted a place under a roof where all the pack could come together, as well as the community too.

I knew about the young pup. He had been the one following my around the clearings offering to help whenever he could, even if it meant being late for school. I’d had to tell him off. Remind him of the packet he had made to his Alpha about attending school and getting good grads. But we all knew he was a good kiddo.

Taking a double take my eyebrow raised like a shot. “Did you just agree with me? Are you unwell? Did you mean to say that out loud? You know the Spirits may just fall over in shock.”

If #Danni hadn’t bustled back into the room with a big grin, I would have kicked Embry on the arse for the fun of it. And then he began speaking to her about #TheKid, the bar and me. What was he doing? Trying to pimp me out to this chick or something?

“Yeah.” I nodded my head. Turning the conversation right back on to the girl. “College? Are you at Seattle?”

She tucked her hair behind her ear nodding shyly before speaking. “I am indeed.” Clapping her hands “Go Redhawks!” she laughed softly now. ‘Do you go there too?’

Pressing my lips together, I shook my head. “I didn’t go to college; it wasn’t the right path for me.” It wasn’t a lie. Did I want to go? Yes, of course I did. I was meant to be the first in the Clearwater’s to go. However, my path had been set on different direction.

“So, listen. I see this banner here with your business name on it. We would like to take this too. We can hang it and let everyone know that you are sponsoring the event.”

#Danni’s eyes moved from me to Embry and then back again. ‘Seriously? That would be awesome. Yes. Please. Yes.’

Pointing over to Embry. “Sure, Embry here likes getting his tool belt out. He will be sure to find a perfect spot for it. Right Embry?” I asked grinning as #Danni gave him her big eyes like they do in the cartoons.

•- Embry Call -•

“We might have different methods with the pups, Leah…” I chuckled. “But we have the same goals. All of the OGs do…” I tilted my head, “Maybe not Paul.” I laughed outright now.

My brows raised at Leah and saw I #Danni’s expression change.

So… even two-spirit girls were turned on by a guy that could fix things. What was that about? “You’re already making me take my shirt off for this event and now you want to add a tool belt? Are you trying to start a riot, Clearwater?” I smirked and #Danni turned beet red.

‘Eh-Excuse me?’ Her eyes darted between us. ‘Wha—um…’

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “You fix a single door and all of a sudden you’re the village handyman.” I acted like this was the answer to the questions she couldn’t get out. “But yes, I would gladly hang the banner at the event, Danni. You’ve been so generous.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my eyes, he would have fitting a smack upside his head. But #Danni stood dumbfounded her gaze moving from Embry, then back to me. Her eyebrows quivered however the redness in her face just made the girl look cute.

I shook my  head, if that was all the information he planned to give, and let the girl fill in the blanks for herself. Well then, the outcomes were on him. Embry knew I won that bet fair and square. So, he had no choice but to pay up.

‘Thank you…  thank you both.’ #Danni tugged at her sleeve. ‘I know this is for a good cause, so if dad’s business can help of course, we want that. However, he could do with the world of mouth too. Business has been a little slowly for us this year.’

Taking my hands out of my pockets, my eyebrow raised. Taking notes on her comment.

“We will put up the banner, it will help people to see which businesses are happy to be a part of our community.” And I would talk to those I know who  travelled into port. Telling them about this place to drum up some support for them too.

Glancing at Embry in that moment. We should load the jeep up.” My arms wrapped around two boxes (which could have been four, however the need to  look human was a must with witnesses.)

“I’ll start with the cleaners. I have a feeling all the shirtless lot will want to lather up.”  My lips curled up into a grin when I saw #Danni take a step forward to take a box to hide her  reflection. As if her scent hadn’t given her away.

‘I can help you with this.’ She said her eyes forward trying to gather herself. However, I still caught her looking from Embry to me and back again.

Looking back over my shoulder. “You  take your time here, Call. We got this.”

•- Embry Call -•

I did my best not to laugh or smirk and make this shy girl even shier. I smiled at her… but not my flirty one… I wasn’t sure that #Danni could handle that. It was more like the smile I gave the imprint when I was trying to convince them I  was innocent of whatever was going on. “We’re a community that stands by the people who stand by us.”

I chuckled, I wasn’t sure where this idea of getting the guys to strip off for this event came from.. but I was certain it came from a gossiping session with Mom, #Sue and most like #RachelBlack. I laughed at Leah… “Oh, I’m so sorry…” I lifted the broken polisher. “I thought that I was looking at two strong independent women that didn’t need a man to do their heavy lifting.” I laughed; I was so going to pay for that the minute Leah's hands were empty.

‘So cheeky!’ #Danni seemed to come out of her shell, and she packed up all the parts of the polisher that weren't currently attached into a box. “We’ll just have to prove it to you!’ She purposely stepped in front of me and made her way out the door ahead of me, swishing her ponytail… Okay… so this girl had a little spunk in her.

Out at the Jeep, I slid the machine in as far as I could. ‘Wow…’ Danni circled my baby… You weren’t kidding about it being an old Jeep. How does it run?’

“Like a dream!” I smirked… “When she starts.” I teased but most of the time she did start.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I told you we got this. It’s not my bloody fault you think I’m always being sarcastic.” Kicking him on his arse for the comment.

Once my arms were empty, I turned back to go get some more. Leaving Embry to talk with #Danni. It wasn’t until I returned with three boxes this time that I heard her comment about the keep.

“It runs on fossil fuel.” Saying it under my breath for Embry to hear clearly. Because why would I miss out of teasing him about it? He’d never go easy on me if the table were turned. However, I was impressed a little. The girl seemed to know what she liked and how to appreciate the time and attention it took to keep something as old as the jeep running.

But most of all, I could help but notice the pride in Embry’s persona at being about to share some part of his baby with some who got it too.

TBC in Part Three...

[blazingtheway]

The First Steps on a New Path - Storyline 10 – Together ( Part One )

•- Embry Call -•

"Hey, Sunshine." I spoke into the phone, a grin on my face when I saw #SueClearwater's name on the screen. "What can I do for you today?"

'Oh, I am so glad you answered the phone like that.' I could hear the smile in her voice. 'I need to ask for a favour but only if you're free? But feel free to say no if you have plans.'

"For you, beautiful... my day is wide open." I was still walking around the house and getting dressed after my shower.

'You are such a charmer.' She laughed softly. 'Well, I would ask Leah, but Seth finally convinced her to take a day off. But there's a car wash down in Port and they've very kindly donated supplies for our fundraiser. I was hoping that you might go and pick them up for me.'

"Wow... Leah is taking a day off?" I laughed. "I guess there's a first for everything."

Of course, I told #Sue that would be no problem. But as I got dressed an idea occurred to me. I picked up my phone again and contemplated texting her... but I second-guessed myself. That would give her a chance to think before she answered. Instead, I climbed into my Jeep... and drove. I knew she wasn't a fan of cars, but we could hardly bring back what sue needed on bikes.

When I arrived, her bike was still parked outside so I knew there was a good chance she was home. I had been making a habit of showing up unannounced here... and so far, the results had always been unexpected and... Spirits! I hardly had words for the last time.

I knew I could make a quick errand into a great day off, so I had no guilt in convincing her to tag along.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Take the day off sis… he says…. We got the bar and the ordering covered… he says.” Muttering to myself I was for the fifth time walking from the kitchen to the living room with another slice of bacon.

“Maybe hiring Charlie was a bad idea.” I muttered biting into the crispy goodness when she scoffed at me.

‘Oh please, you just don’t like giving up—‘

Her words cut short and both of us were looking to the front of the house. That sound wasn’t one we could mistake, and I found my body moving forward until I came too and stopped myself.

‘Did you know he was coming?’ I shook my head.

‘Okay… but you’re not annoyed that he is pulling up?’ It was like she was on a mission to make sure I didn’t kill him.

“No….” And it was the truth. We listened to his jeep pulling up.

‘So, are you going to open the door.’ But his scent hit my senses grounding me, and with it came a barrage of memories.

“Spirits…” What in their name was going on? Memories like this… I didn’t have those.

‘Well, you do now. Go and open the door.’ She pushed me forward.

The next thing I knew I was at my front door. Holding it open with my head tilted to the side.

“Making a habit of this now, are we?” His red jeep was unmistakable, in its looks, and the sound of it too.

•- Embry Call -•

The scent of her was in the air even before she opened the door. It stirred up that night... one that I could recall more vividly than any other.

"No more than you make it a habit to open the door when I show up?" I smiled at her. 'I heard that you were at a loose end today. Fancy getting out of town?" I asked with a tilt of my head, contemplating whether or not to tell her why.

But for the sake of my curiosity, I decided to see if she would come, without a solid plan in mind. I dangled my keys from my finger and grinned. 'I'll even let you drive if you want to?" No one was really sure why Leah hated four-wheeled vehicles so much but maybe giving her the option to be in control of it would be beneficial.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My hand tightened around the wood of my door. ‘Don’t do it.’ My wolf warned. ‘He is goading you.’ And I knew if I banged the door on his face, it would be like I had taken ten steps back in my evolution.

Cracking my neck from side to side. “I’ve always opened the door if someone came knocking. I just made it so…. Nobody dared to come knocking unless the world was ending.”

My eyes drifted to his face, there was a glint in his eyes. “How…” I stopped. It was La Push, information spread like wildfire.

Raising my eyebrow. “Get out of town? With you? In that?” My chin lifting towards his jeep. “Was there a memo I missed?” Pointing over to my baby. “Why wouldn’t I just go on him?”

‘Leah Clearwater!’ She was rolling her eyes at me. ‘Can’t you tell when a guy wants to have you to himself?’

She made me frown. Nah… it was Call… He wouldn’t… would he?

‘Shall we replay the kiss?’ I pushed her back.

“Go where exactly?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned, that signature neck crack was telling me I was getting to her. I grinned and turned back to look at that beautiful machine of hers.

"Because even though he is worthy of cult-like worship... He makes it very difficult to have a conversation on the road." Of course, this was true, but it would also be very hard to bring back the supplies the #Sue wanted me to pick up.

"Just as far as Port Angeles... if the world decides to stop turning because you took a day off... we can straight back." I tilted my head and leaned on the door frame, giving her that smile... not my usual cocky smile. This was different, this was new.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyebrows pulled together, I knew the guys all adored my baby. They knew if they touched him, they would die. Okay maybe just broken bones. But it counted.

‘Shall we replay Seattle and Embry riding you too the Four Seasons?’ The moment she let that memory out, she locked it up hard. ‘You know what. Just take my word for it.’

“Port?” Curiosity wasn’t really my thing. I didn’t need to know what people did with their lives, and yet some part of me was intrigued.

“Who says I want to talk with you?” I was mostly a silent rider. Listening to music, not other people’s voices was my thing.

My heart did something it never had before Embry Call. It stopped as I took in that smile of his. It wasn’t cocky, it wasn’t the one he gave before. This… this reached his eyes, and I could see the depths of the earthy brown in there.

•- Embry Call -•

She was having one of those silent conversations that made me want to get inside her head. But I knew that wasn't going the change anytime soon... she was a private person. Leah was one of a kind... and changing that would be changing to much of who she was.

I liked her exactly the way she was.

I chuckled and bit my lips, hearing the change in her heartbeat. "Oh, I would imply that you wanted to talk to me." I teased her. "But... You know me. I'm a talker..."

I quirked a brow. "I'll even throw in control of the tunes for the road... Just to sweeten the pot."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyes catch the bite to his lips.

“Did you say I could drive?” Raising my eyebrow, I reached over to grab my jacket off the back of the door. “And you... you are willing to give up your radio too?“

That for him had to be a hard pass. I couldn’t see him letting me play whatever I wanted, but then again, we’d already seen the fact that we somehow shared in the music we liked.

Pushing my feet into my boots, I turned my attention back to him. My heart stopped for a beat when I glance past him to the jeep.

“You can drive, and you can keep the control of your music. I don’t need to be bribed.”

He had to know, that if I didn’t want to go. Then I just wouldn’t. Grabbing my keys and pushing them into my pocket, I shrugged my jacket on pulling my hair free from the back.

“Well? Are we going?” I stepped around him leaning on my door frame.

“You aren’t getting any younger standing there.” Pulling the door closed.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned at her. Letting people drive my jeep wasn't a problem for me, I frequently came home after using my bike for the day and my Jeep would be gone. One of the pups or #Quil having helped themselves to the key inside the unlocked house. They really did the same with my bike... she had a tendency to break down when anyone but me rode her.

But the radio? Giving up control of my radio, that was only for very special occasions. Unless it was Mom in the jeep with me.

Even though I had been hopeful; seeing her reach for her jacket brought that new smile to my lips again. "I would never attempt to bribe you, Clearwater." I gasped with mock offence. "Just... Incentivise." Maybe a hint smug at how I'd managed to spin that. But I wasn't foolish to believe that I could have swayed her if she wants to come along.

It was just my way of telling her I wanted her to spend the day with me... somewhere we didn't need to worry about prying eyes, without making her bolt for the treeline.

I tilted my head as I watched her free her hair. Trying not to stare at the way feel over her shoulder and down her back. I had to shake myself when she spoke...

"So, you do like 'em younger then..." I teased and headed to the jeep.

"Good to know!" I grinned cheekily now as I stepped up into the driver's side of the jeep.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

As I walked to the passenger side of the jeep, I chewed in the inside of my cheeks. Everything was in lockdown, but she saw past it all.

‘You are fine, it’s just a jeep ride to Port.’ Once she was sure I wouldn’t change my mind. My wolf lay herself down and closed her eyes. ‘I’m keeping one open just in case.’ She mused as I opened the door.

Rolling my eyes at her, with one graceful move I was in the seat and closing the door. “I don’t like them anyway Wisearse. Just saying you may worry about the hair loss or the Wrinkles appearing on your forehead.” Betting with myself to see if he looked in the mirror.

Tutting at him as I shifted in the seat. “Wait until I tell Ms C you didn’t even open the door to this heap of rust, for me.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I had to smirk. Because if he had tried to do that, I would have ripped him a few new holes in his body.

•- Embry Call -•

I shook my head and laughed. "C'mon now..." I grinned. "We all know I'm gonna age gracefully! It's the Call genes... my Granddad was a good-looking right up to the end."

I buckled my sheet and connected my phone to the sound system... the only new thing in this jeep. "I would get lecture by Mom than thumped by you for treating you like a delicate flower when we both know you are the furthest thing from one." I gave her a smile. "But now that I know chivalry is your thing, I will keep in mind right next to the tidbit about liking younger men."

I hit shuffle and grinned at the second Andy started to sing. The shuffle gods never disappointed me.

(Music: Fresh Eyes · Andy Grammar )

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Of all the people I know… you Embry Call are the very last person to be graceful in your old age.”

My eyes were following his hands as he settles abs my lips quirked. He had actually installed it? Seth has wanted to get Call a new system for this jeep for a while, so it has become the Clearwater Christmas gift for him.

I raised my eyebrow looking across to him.

“You really expected anything less of your mom or me. What’s the point of being the Beta… if I can’t keep you guessing.”

As soon as the song started, I shook my head. “Always stealing from my playlist Call.”

•- Embry Call -•

She was probably right... For all I knew I would for back to that lanky, skinny guy I was before I could have. Just the thoughts of working out like I did now as a human? Nope! There's a hope I could keep with all the junk food I ate.

“Good thing I don't plan on ageing any time soon then.” I grinned and pulled out into the street. I saw her eyeing the stereo system the Clearwater’s had given me for Christmas. “Everything else on the baby is original.” I chuckled.

“But who could turn down high-quality audio. And it's not stealing if it was in mine first.” This track was most certainly stolen. I smirked as we passed through the village at an easy pace. It was that time of the morning... The fishing boats had already left but every else was only stirring, so the streets were more or less empty.

“I might need to see this playlist of yours. Otherwise, how can you prove I stole it?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Chivalry… the word made a home in my mind because it wasn’t my thing at all. I listened to the song until he cut into both.

“Hmm.” It hadn’t been something I ever really thought about. Being a Spirit Warrior wasn’t about immortality, it was far from it. But… me… I never saw myself as growing old.

I half smiled at his comment. “That maybe some of the issue with this thing.” Pointing at the roof.

“That thing may come down on us without any warning.” And we would be fine, or at least we would be in a day or two. I shook my head pushing the thought out.

“I wasn’t born yesterday Call, if I hand my playlist over… you will just steal even more from it.”

•- Embry Call -•

"Hey! there is nothing wrong with my jeep. She's rock solid." I grinned and silently begged my baby not to splutter and die on me the moment the words left my mouth.

"I prefer to call to call it involuntary sharing." I laughed. "Besides, music is meant to be shared. not hoarded. Even if my mom insists that digital sharing will be the downfall of the entire industry." The song changed as we passed out of the village, and I smirked.

( Music: Picture This - More Than Just Tonight )

"There's no chance you can accuse me of stealing this one." my fingers tapped out the rhythm of the song on the steering wheel. But instead of tapping the percussive beats like most people would my fingers mimicked the keyboard notes.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I rolled the window down, closing my eyes as the wind hit my face and blew my hair all over.

“If you say so, but… we know the truth.” I knew I shouldn’t tease him about his Jeep, because if he did the same to my baby. He would have broken bones.

I combed my fingers through my hair, turning my attention back to him with a raised eyebrow.

“Your mom still things live, and vinyl are the only way to listen to music, right? Not that I blame her. There is magic…” I bit the inside of my cheeks; I wasn’t one to share this way. “It’s... hmm... good.” We passed the lines of our land, and there was a hum in the air. It was charged as it kissed my skin.

“And this.” Pointing to his radio. “More Than Just Tonight by Picture This… you stole it.”

Rubbing my hands on my thighs to stop myself from reaching out to see what else he had on the listen. But then my glance fell in the wheel and the way his fingers tapped it. Like he was playing the piano.

•- Embry Call -•

I just laughed at her reply about the jeep. I patted the wheel affectionately. “Don't listen to her, I know you’ll never let me down.”

I could see the slight change in her when she was talking about music. She was still guarded, but the was okay... I was getting at seeing past that.

Was that what had happened? Was the night of live music that had opened us up to this new pathway? Did stepping out of comfort zone and singing in public break down a wall of my own that I never really knew was there?

“Yeah... She’s still old school.” I laughed and shook my head at the accusation of me stealing another of her songs. “No way! If anything, you stole this one!” I laughed, a grin spreading across my features.

“Feel free to look browse.... And steal anything you like.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pressing my lips together to stop the smirk threatening to show itself on my lips, I turned my eyes to the road ahead.

“I mean… if you both need a minute or ten, you could pull over and I’ll step out.”

Like I could talk. Speaking to my baby was a daily occurrence in my life, I just didn’t do it in front of witnesses.

“There is nothing wrong being old school. Not when Ms. C plays so well. I wouldn’t stream if I had her talents.” The Calls had music in their blood. They lived and breathed it.

Pulling my eyebrow’s together.

“Please. Why would I need to steal from you? Are you saying I don’t have decent taste without your help?”

Reaching out I took his unlocked phone.

“That’s just dangerous.”

I would never leave my phone unlocked near anyone from the pack.

•- Embry Call -•

"Like you don't talk to your baby." I chuckled and rolled my eyes playfully as we made our way at a moderate pace along the long road between La Push and Forks. A speed that I knew was probably maddeningly slowly to Leah.

"I'm sure your taste is perfectly fine." I grinned. "But I'm certain a deep dive into my library would just... broaden your tastes." A smugness crept into my expression.

"Dangerous? Really?" I tilted my head and glanced at her for a moment. "Do you think you'll find something in there that I wouldn't want you to?" The whole pack knew my passcode... partly because I didn't really use my hone for anything but texts, calls and music and partly because I had to leave with them when I patrolled in case my mom needed me.

But all of that was a moot point... She wouldn't snoop through anyone phones, she valued privacy too much and not just her own.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow, but I didn’t look up from his playlists, scrolling the first of them. “Jealous of my baby now? I mean he does get to ride me daily.” Smirking and then I looked up and out the front window.

“We can still do that, right? The whole sexual innuendo and joking thing? Because it is still too good to pass up when you walk right into them.”

It was one of the things that just came naturally with him. The banter, the jokes, the teasing.

Turning my attention back to the playlist as I spoke. “For me to see in your phone?” I shook my head. “I’m just thinking it’s a lot of trust that I wouldn’t send Walker a message from you, telling him how much you are infatuated with him. I’m sure that’ll made his day.”

I hit play on Imagine Dragons’s Believer.

“Stolen.” I muttered.

(Music: Believer · Imagine Dragons )

•- Embry Call -•

I almost choked on a laugh... Leah on the beautiful bike was a sight to behold. But picturing it now stirred all sorts of new sensations, my stomach did that swirly thing and my heart definitely sold me out.

“No point changing the habit of a lifetime.” I beamed a smile at her. “Right?” I mean of course, things were different now, especially when we were alone, but we were the same people that grew up side-by-side too

I shook my head, laughing again. “He would just ask how much it would keep me for a whole weekend.” I knew she was far from fond of Joe... But it was hard to think of him solely as a bad guy. Even though my conversation with Leah about my past shone a light on a few home truths, he had still made it easy for me to quit and gave my time off when I needed it for Mom.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Point to me.” I muttered a little slowly. The sound of his laugh lost in itself, the pulse of his blood and that tell-tale beat of his heart. They all gave me the answer.

“Okay… you know the truth is that I’m the one riding my baby. I mean… if we want to get all technically correct.” There, that should prove I had no plans to change the person I was when it came to roasting him.

I combed my fingers through my hair, the winds blowing in was somewhat freeing. Even if I missed the speed and the freedom of being on my bike and in control.

Setting his phone back down, I just looked at him. “How much for the weekend?” I wasn’t one to judge, but I drew the line at #Walker.

I had to unfits my hands rubbing them on my lap. Fighting the sound of his voice being pulled from my memories.

‘Not now… leave that one for another day.’ She whispered from her slumber. And I knew she was right.

“Hmm… I didn’t know your services were for sale?” Trying to bring the teasing back into my tone. “He best tip you generously for a whole weekend.”

•- Embry Call -•

I wanted to roll my eyes at her 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕤 comment... But she was right. My own heart had sold me out. “Either way he still gets to be between your legs.” I chuckled, showing the wasn't going to become shy and careful with my words either.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her hands ease out of fists on her lap. But let it go... She would voice her thoughts in her own time. “Please!” I scoffed. “Even Walker couldn't afford me!” I teased.

I hummed along to the tune on of what was easily my favourite song... And that meant something coming from me. “And by the way... There's no chance you can call this stolen. I've been obsessed with this track since it was released.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“What can I say? Once they have my legs around them. They can’t settle for anything less.”

I didn’t think or blink as the words formed into sound. This was something I liked. We both didn’t change into something unrecognisable overnight.

A kiss, the path, the conversations they made it okay to be us, and try this thing between us in our own way.

“You’d make him pay? Do I need to remind you of the free shows you hand out at the #HwH?” The last one had him with #Paul dancing on top of my bar.

My thoughts stopped, I found myself listening to him fully now. The sound of his heart beat in the background and his humming in the forefront.

“Hmm?” Crossing my arms over my chest. “Oh, right… and you were the only one to hear the track, were you?”

•- Embry Call -•

"Why do I have a feeling that that is the truest thing you've ever said to me?" I had t push down the images that were brought to mind before anything other than my heart started to betray me.

"Hey... I was just trying to drum up some business for you and the kid." I chuckled, that had been a pretty good night. other than the visual of #Pual trying to unbutton my shirt.

I laughed again. "And she says she isn't stubborn?" I posed the rhetorical question to myself more than her. "We'll have to split it fifty-fifty. that my best offer."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Shifting in the seat to face him as I answered this question. “I have no idea; I’ve never lied to you intentionally.” I hadn’t lied to anyone.

I may not have given the full information, but that wasn’t lying. ( Even if Ma didn’t always see it my way. )

Rolling my eyes now.

“You and Paul were close to causing the townies some heart palpitations.” And sale had gone up for the following weeks too. “People started asking if it was a returning show.”

I was drawn to his laughter again, but not enough to be distracted.

“Eighty - twenty and that’s a generous offer.” I was in no way giving up a hold on music.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled. “I know...” I grinned. “But all the same I think that one particular... Experience would be life-affirming.” Again, I had the push back a swell of images that swelled up in my mind.

I could get used to these little thrills when I was alone with her but not quite alone enough to act on them. “Im shocked none of your customers fainted at the sight.” I boasted.

I turned to look at her for just a moment, a mocking outrage on my features. “No chance! Sixty-Forty?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Small things give you joy Embry Call.” And it was how it was meant to be. The small things in life others forget should be the things we take the most joy in.

Biting the inside my cheeks, I combed my finger through my hair to push it out of my face. “Don’t get up yourself, those townies would faint at anything with two legs and a six pack.”

But now I rolled my eyes at him. “In your bloody dreams. The offer now stands at Ten - Ninety. Now what are you going to do?”

Shifting in the seat again, I turned to look out. It wasn’t often I was a passenger; I never really had the time to take in a drive like this.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I guess so. You don’t need much to be happy. Family, friends… a purpose, something to be passionate about.” I grinned and glanced back at her. “Or two.”

I bit my lips and turned my gaze back to the road as the homes and businesses of the small town of Forks started to fly past the windows. “You can’t go backwards!!” I laughed incredulously.

“Now I’m going to remind you of that moment when you stormed across the street and kissed me, how hard your heart was beating. The way you held your breath for a second just before you pulled away. And then make a counter offer of Seventy - Thirty.”

I grinned; I was playing dirty… but she liked it that way.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

His list wasn’t that different to mine. Family was always number one. There were no ifs or buts about it. And I knew this was something we both agreed with.

“I can go which ever way I want –“ My head jerked to gaze at him. My heart stopped and then started, and I could feel my neck heating up.

The images, the sensations, the scent of him and the air of the early morning as day had just started to break. It all came rushing back to me as he spoke the words. “That’s playing dirty Embry Call and you know it.” I snapped my teeth at him.

And some how my brown eyes fell to his lips before I looked away.

•- Embry Call -•

Spirits! That sound.

The sound of her heart staggering... the thought it was caused by triggering a memory of her and I... It was... something else.

"I'm just playing the cards I was dealt!" I smiled. "And it's fair game. We're alone." I picked up a little speed as we hit the 101 but still just cruising at half the speed Leah would take this road at on that gorgeous beast of her. The song changes and I grinned. The shuffle gods were on my side today.

(Music: There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back · Shawn Mendes )

"Seventy-five twenty-five." I held out my hand to her to seal the deal and started to sing along with the radio... more off-key than the open-mic night.

"Oh, I've been shaking

I love it when you go crazy

You take all my inhibitions

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back

You ake me places that tear up my reputation

Manipulate my decisions

Baby, there's nothing holdin' me back"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“I wonder what would happen, if I went and stole those cards of yours?” I teased him right back.

Oh, I wanted to punch him right now. He knew the rules and he was playing them to his advantage. We were out of our lands, and we had passed the lines of Forks.

He held his hand out towards me and I just looked from the side view of his face to it. Then he started singing? He thought he had this deal in the bag. He was… well…. Spirits….

All I kept thinking was that he was singing… even if it was off key.

“I don’t work in increments of five. Seventy - Thirty, don’t say I’m not fair in my dealings.”

It was better than my first offer. But I knew you had to be fair to keep the competition alive. Taking his hand in mine I shook it once while Shaw Mendes sang and witnessed the deal was done.

•- Embry Call -•

I just grinned at her not daring to answer the question. I smiled when she took my hand and shook it.

"Well… well!" I chuckled. "Leah Clearwater compromised!" The touch of her hand in mine... while rare... shouldn't have elicited the response it did. My stomach leapt at even this innocent contact.

I turned to glance at her just for a moment, catching her watching me. I smiled and laced my fingers through hers and squeezed gently... but not as gently as I would if she were human. Not needing to stop and check my strength was new.

"It's a brave new world Trouble."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow at him.

“Eye on the road Dimples.” I pointed out front. “And I compromise when it’s needed. Just not often.”

I glance down at our hands, and how he had laced his fingers into mine. My stomach did that jumping thing and the heat crawled up my neck again. What was wrong with me? Slowing I started to take my hand back. It was still something I wasn’t used to. And being out in the open, letting myself be held, even just a hand… it was new.

“Brave and new Dimples. But the question is who will be the last person standing?”

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled, not a cocky grin and turned back to the road. But she knew that ears on the road was plenty for a wolf. Though we never let that little fact slip to the pups.

I released her hand when she pulled it away, but she moved slowly... almost hesitantly, that feeling was more than enough to tell me a dozen things she wouldn't say out loud.

"Why can only one of us be left standing?" I asked, that smile was back. "Who says that one of has to win... or lose?

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My head tilted to the side, allowing my hair to fall freely as I took that smile of his in.

It had been a new one for me to notice for a little while. The way it lit up his features and reached his eyes giving them a glint without the need of light….

I cleared my throat when I heard my Wolf whisper, ‘Easy… there… woman, someone would think you like him.’

Turning my gaze back to the open 101, a road I’d ridden on enough to know like the back of my hand.

“Hmm? Oh, well the saying is Last Man Standing, doesn’t quite have the same ring to it… if you say Last Two standing… does it?” And yet, as my sarcasm rang loud, I knew that wasn’t the question he was asking me right now.

“New world Embry… New rules… We do it our way… that’s what we said, isn’t it?” This last question was sincere.

•- Embry Call -•

Even without looking, I could feel her eyes on me. I chuckled softly. "I suppose it doesn't. But... Yes, we do this our way. We've never lived by the rules and standards that other people set... Why would we start now?"

I smiled, remembering the rules we'd set. It was strange... Rules weren't really my thing. But there is something about these ones... they just didn't feel restrictive. Think of that night made me want to kiss her again, remembering the feeling of her hands on my cheeks and in my hair.

I leaned back into m seat and reach across to rest my hand on her knee, giving it a light squeeze. "We've got this, Trouble."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My first instinct was to punch or smack his hand away. But I bit it down. This was our path, and to that this was a part of my evolution for myself.

I knew there would be growth for the two of us. There had already been, but we each where on our own evolutions and at this point the paths came together. ( or at least that’s what I was telling myself so that I didn’t drop, and roll out of this jeep and run. )

But the words We got this… it resonated.

“So…” without thinking I placed my hand over his. Squeezing back my reply to him. “Are you going to tell me where this ride ends? Or is it more about the journey?”

Which I had no problems with. Climbing on my baby and setting out for the day without a plan was a reoccurring thing for me. It was always about the ride, not the destination.

My eyes were back in the radio as the shuffle moved to the next song.

(Music: Best Shot (Acoustic) · Jimmie Allen)

•- Embry Call -•

I only let my hand linger for a moment on her knee, she was already out of her comfort zone with all of this, and I had no reason to push. This was all a first for me too and I didn’t want to miss anything vital by sprinting for the finish line.

"Port Angeles." I said with a shit-eating grin. "I plan on stranding you there, so my journey will end at home... but Port is your stop." I laughed. But the song pulled my focus... the shuffle gods were either sending a very strong message... or trying to send Leah running for the hills. But she was here.

"There's a car wash there that offered to donate some supplies for the car wash fundraiser. #Sue asked me to go pick them up." I came clean before she really dropped and rolled out of my jeep.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow at him, I bit down on the inside of my cheeks. He had that grin on his face again and I wasn’t past leaning over and smacking it off his face. So, I took the middle ground and still leant over and smacked him up the side of his head.

“I dare you to strand me there. You know I would be back on our lands before you and then the Spirits help you and your Jeep.” My wolf was grinning and sitting up now. She was up for the challenge in my voice, that was until he told us what the plan was.

“Ma asked you to pick the things up?” This wasn’t uncommon, Ma would ask the pack from time to time for help, but it was only when I had runs and couldn’t be there to help, or the Kid was working too. “Ma knew I had the day off today. I don’t know why she didn’t ask me.” This question was more to myself, but I ended up saying it out loud.

Whatever her reason, I knew this car wash was important to her and #MsC. “Do… Do you mind if we make another stop while in Port?” I had planned to go to Port Angeles in the week. But now that we were going there…

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled and made an X over my heart. "I promise... I wouldn't dream of it." If I did... it would be a death wish. "I think that's exactly why she didn't ask you. It's not often that you give yourself a break. But I knew I turn it a day well-spent 𝕒𝕟𝕕 still get the job done." I let out a boastful laugh.

I turned and smiled at her. "We can make as many stops as you want. I plan on making at least two... well three of you included the car wash." I had barely taken a breath before I realised, I had forgotten one... or rather it came to me in the split second. "Maybe four... we need to eat at some stage too."

The music changed again. This was the album that had downloaded after Seattle and hearing Leah's anthem.

(Music: Speechless · Rachel Platten)

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“So, what you’re telling me… is that it’s a conspiracy?” I didn’t even know Ma did it.

Muttering to myself about how I would still make him pay. “I’ll be keeping my eyes on you Embry Call.” Saying the words as my eyes found their way back to the side view of his face. His hair had grown out again, and I wanted to tease him about getting a haircut. We all knew his mom liked him with his hair well kept, so it had become a thing about telling him to get it cut.

“Four? I mean live a little Dimples, make it five while you can.” My eyes were out the side window watching the world go by until I heard the song. Then they flew back to the radio and him.

“You listen to Rachel Platten? This one has to be theft…” I didn’t know many people at all who listened to her. And I didn’t know why, she was a talented artist and her music really hit the mark.

And the song… Speechless... the words were already dancing on my lips, my leg slowly moving to the beat. I squeezed my own thigh to stop myself.

•- Embry Call -•

"Who could blame you?" I grinned and motioned to myself. "I mean... have you seen me?" I chuckled at her reaction to me saying we had at least four stops.

"That's just Plan A." I chuckled. "But who knows how many plans we'll end up with." I knew the line was probably painful to her.

I nodded not denying it for a second. "Yup! One hundred percent stolen and I'm not sorry." I said with the big grin again. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the hint of movement on her lips and her hand pressing into her thigh.

I quietly sang along.

"When you're touching me when you're kissing me. Nothing left to say, I'm speechless"

I nudged her with my elbow and laughed. "C'mon Leah! It's not a road trip if you don't belt out the songs."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

That was it, checking the road, it was a straight stretch. There were no other cars coming around us, and the road was flat. Safe… the word rang in my mind.

I reached out and punched his bicep hard.

“You’re welcome.” For what? Who really cared?

“So, there is a plan… for someone who just likes living in the moment. Must be hard.” He kept telling me to live in the moment. And here I sat.

Leaning back once again in the seat, I turned my head to watch him. The way he just opened up now. The moment slowed when he sang, and I knew he wasn’t holding back.

“You give a guy a stage for one night… and then he can’t stop himself from thinking he is Pavarotti.”

My lips curled at the corners a little as a smile started to grow, and then it disappeared. Raising my eyebrow at him. “I’m good thanks, I’ll keep my singing to the bathroom.”

He didn’t know… he couldn’t have found out, right?

•- Embry Call -•

“Use your words, Trouble.” I glanced at her again and then nodded. “Just a Plan A.” I clarified. “We could be on Plan D before the day is over… who knows!”

“And singing along in the car is different. It’s like singing in the shower. Everybody does it but nobody will admit to it.” I chuckled at myself, because wasn’t that exactly what she had just done?

I knew not working to a schedule wasn’t really her thing, but on a in a while it was a good thing.

“Sue might not do happy with me for taking you along. But we can mix errands and a day off still make it a good time.”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Action always speak louder than words for me Dimples.” I couldn’t help the smug feeling. We were so different when it came to so much, and still some things were unquestionably uniquely the same.

“If you tell anyone I said this, I will deny it. But I’m impressed that you have attempted a plan.” Was it for himself? Probably not. But Spirits, it helped to ease me.

The next part I muttered under my breath. “Errands are a good time for me.” Getting the jobs done, making sure those who needed help had it.

“And let’s face it, Ma will forgive you.” She had a soft spot for this Call.

“I’m not singing in the Jeep.” My arms were crossed over my chest. “But… you go ahead… I’m not stopping you.” I actually wanted to hear him again.

The sound, the feel, the fact that he had opened up to all of La Push at the open mic night, and shocked us all with his voice… I still found myself thinking about it.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and wondered if I should tell her that plan was just a random combination of what #Sue had asked me to do and what I always did when I made it Port... Maybe not staying for lunch. That I added just to stretch out the day a little.

So... I suppose it was a plan... it was just a very, very recently made plan.

"That's true... She does seem to think I can do no wrong." That was so far from the truth. #Sue would call me out on my crap just as fast as my mother would.

"Like you could stop me if you tried!" I rolled my window down and turned up the next song that came long and belted it out.

"She's a wet drink in the desert of lust. Got me tongue-tied, I'm ready to bust. She's like a rose in bloom, a love tattoo. That's under my skin and there's nothing I can do. She's coming at me like the blazing sun; I'm gonna get burned but I know she's the one."

(Music: Blonde, Bad And Beautiful · Airbourne )

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Hey, hey, stop trying to steal my Ma.” Like I had a leg to stand on? It was a running theme with me attempting to steal his mother away from him. I’d even propose to her a few times. Always making #MsC blush and laugh.

My Ma would give all the guys a smack up the side of their heads if they stepped out of line, and she would do it with a smile on her lips.

I rolled my tongue over my teeth, trying to stop the laughter bubbling up in my chest. But as he rolled his window down, and then put that extra effort in to show me just what his jeep singing was about. I rolled my eyes abs burst out laughing.

“Airbourne? They are you go to?” He hadn’t picked it, it was just what his shuffle played next.

I shook my head, only he would have a diverse playlist like mine. Going from Speechless by Rachel Platten, to Blonde, Bad, and Beautiful by Airbourne. Then again the guitar solo at the start was epic.

“Okay, okay, you’ve proven your point.” But I was fine with him keeping it up.

•- Embry Call -•

I shook my head emphatically; she was never going to give up on trying to steal my mom away. So there was no way I was giving up my #Sue. “Hey!” I pointed a finger at her and then pulled it back sharply before she had a mind to snap it clean off. “Never question the shuffle gods.” I grinned wide and moved out around a truck to overtake it.

I may have been all about the journey but was looking at the arse end of a big rig wasn’t exactly my idea of a view. My grin widened when she conceded that I made a good point. “So, are you going to tell me about this stop of yours? Or is it a surprise?”

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Would this man never learn? I snapped my teeth at him. he moved his finger out the way just in time. “Look who is getting fast.” I teased. “I have no issues with the shuffle gods, they never do wrong by me.” But then the jokes were gone as we can up behind a rig.

I could tell what he was about to do, because if I were on my baby right now, I’d had done the same. My hands rubbed my thighs, and then I fisted them as he took over. A few deep even breaths made sure that I had no reaction with my heart sounding uneven.

“Hmm?” I had to think about his question, repeating it in my mind.

“Oh… hmm… it’s a herbal tea shop. They make blends of tea to meet a person’s needs.” It wasn’t a secret; it just hadn’t been something I spoke to people about.

•- Embry Call -•

Something deep in my gut clenched at that snap... she could have taken my finger clean off and it would still have turned me on.

Then I spotted it. the tightening of her fists... Had I pried too deeply? I mean she was making the stop with me so it couldn't have been that personal, could it?

I eased back into the lane and shifted to fifth... cruising alone right around the speed limit. Then with my right hand now free to set it on top of her left, clenched fist and let the tips of calloused fingers run back and forward over whitened knuckles; willing them to ease.

"Oh!" I said as if I hadn't change in her. I let the gentle touch do the talking in that regard. "Is that the place you got the tea for Mom? You know, I think that made a big difference. She hasn't had a fever since she started drinking it."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My body stiffened a little and my eyes jerked back to my hand. He had placed his over mine, and I hadn’t expected it. The thought had me mentally scold myself. I was letting too much show when I was around him.

‘Or you are just letting enough show, so that the man can see the real you?’ My wolf asked me.

I wasn’t sure what it was. The fact that his hand sat over mine, or I could feel the fact that he was a musician. His guitar strings had left callouses on the tips of his fingers which calmed me. I let my fist open a little.

Nodding my head before looking at him again. “You know about the tea?” Of course, he did. His mom wouldn’t keep it from him.

“Hmm… yeah that’s the place… Herbal Harmony, it’s on the corner of South Eunice St and East 4th Street… The far edge of Jessica Webster Park.” It wasn’t far from the Little Tearoom where our moms liked visiting for afternoon tea.

•- Embry Call -•

I felt some of the tension ease, wondering if what was left was just the tension, I would expect for touching her. It wasn't a bad thing this was strange for her as it was for me, she was just reacting like Leah... I was reacting like me; leaning into the strange, weird wonderfulness that let me touch her like this. She was probably in her head trying to figure out what the hell she was letting me touch her.

I left my hand on hers for a few moments longer than I needed to. I knew that little bit of tension left there wasn't a sign that she didn't want me to touch her if that were the case, she would have removed my hand the moment she felt the heat of my skin on hers.

I smiled at the thought... Who was I kidding? I never would have been able to touch her, to begin with. She was too fast.

"I didn't know I was made especially for Mom's condition... she told me it was supposed to help. But lots of teas have health benefits. I assumed it was just like that." I finally put my hand back on the wheel and glanced at her. "But I'm not surprised... You gave it to her. You always go the extra mile."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The moment his hand moved away I felt the rush of cool air over the very same hand. My eyes remained on the spot where we were touching. And my mind frozen in the moment.

He was as warm as me… when others who dared to touch me did it, there was always the coolness to their hand. Nothing ice cold like the Cullen’s. But still, there was a difference. Not with Embry.

It wasn’t like I didn’t know and understand these things, I guessed by me concentrating on this fact it helped me to relax and ease back again.

“There is nothing stopping you from drinking it. But when Ms C drinks it, it will help her a lot more then it would you or me. Just like Ma’s tea is made to help with her migraines.”

I rubbed my hands together. “I’ve not seen her this week, how is she doing? Is there anything in particular she is feeling or suffering from?”

•- Embry Call -•

I missed her heat instantaneously, but it was more important to me to not push too much... I knew she wanted this. But we were both in new terrain here.

I tilted my head and ran over the last few weeks in my head. "Um, nothing that stands out... I know she gets tired in the afternoon... it bugs her because she feels well and wants to be up and doing the things that make her happy.: I shrugged and glanced over at her. "But I suppose that's to be expected, right? I mean Tea can't exactly work miracles."

The ‘Welcome to Port Angeles’ sign came in sight, this drive was much faster with company.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyebrows pulled together as I let his words sink in. #MsC was most definitely not the kind of woman that would let anything stop her. But health had a way to put the brakes on, weather she liked it or not.

“Hmm… No, the tea isn’t a miracle. But I’ve seen how it helps Ma and some of the others in the Rez. And the last blend seemed to help somewhat.” I made a mental note to tell #Jackie and see if there was anything she could add to the tea for #MsC.

I followed his gaze to the sign as we passed it into Port, the journey had taken much less time than I expected on four wheels.

“Have you heard back from Doc Cullen yet?” I’d arranged a video call with the Calls and #Carlisle to review #MsC’s medical records just in case he knew of anything new… trails… meds… therapies which could help.

•- Embry Call -•

“Oh yeah it's definitely made a huge difference... She's eating better. I think she's even put on a little weight that she’d lost too.” My Mom had always been slight but recently she had lost a lot that she really didn't have to spare. “Its really great to see her eating again and enjoying her food” I gave her a smile, because it had been her doing. She been the one go out of her way to find this tea for her.

“Yeah I had an email a week saying there new trial waiting for approval in Seattle. And he's in thought with them. He said that it can slow but the moment its approved everything starts moving quickly.” I took the streets that Leah had said to find the tea shop first. I could smell the herbs and florals from here as I pulled in along the curb.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

As Call drove into town, my eyes were moving over the streets and the businesses. I didn’t do this passenger thing often enough to take the time to see what was happening.

“Hmm… Well as soon as Doc gives the green light, we will be ready to go.” I knew it would take some convincing his mom, but we would make it happen. I had to smile a little, letting my hair cover it. Hearing from him that #MsC was eating was a gift from the spirits.

“Okay, we are adding one more stop on the way back if that’s the case.” It #MsC was eating there was no way we could leave Port…

“Wait… does anyone know I’m here with you today?” If we made the last stop his mom would know I was behind it. I pointed to a side street past Herbal Harmony.

“You will get a ticket if you park here. Jackie has a couple of spots at the back of her store, she lets me use when I come into Port.”

•- Embry Call -•

I couldn't lie that I was a little about the potential of needing to convince Mom to go that far from home for treatment... But another part of me knew that she wouldn't let me see her give up. And that was part I was clinging to.

I chuckled... of course she was on a first-name basis with the woman that owned the shop. "Around the back it is." I grinned and indicated back out into the traffic and navigated my way around the back of building. "How long have you been coming here exactly?" My curiosity getting the better of me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I found myself shifting in the seat again. Rubbing my hands down my thighs as he set out of the spot and drove to the street I’d indicated.

“Hmm?” Returning my attention to him I shrugged my shoulders a little. How long had I known #Jackie?

Thinking about it as pointed to the empty spots which belonged to the store.

“A few years…” My lips curled a little thinking about our first meeting. “I walked past this store for years, and never went in. Then one day, her grandson was handing out these small cups of tea. Ma was with me, so we went in. And… well… you know what Ma is like.”

My Ma, she could made a friend out of your arch nemesis. I was sure #TheKid got that skill from her too.

Once parked, I pushed the door open and jumped out of the Jeep. Stretching my legs and back. I tugged my jeans down, then straightened up my shirt, and combed my fingers through my hair.

“She is as bad as our Ma’s too. If you aren’t in line, Jackie won’t think twice to set your arse straight.” I didn’t the fingers thing at him, to say he was being watched.

“So, best behaviour Dimples.” I said starting to walk backwards away from the Jeep and towards the Main Street again.

•- Embry Call -•

“No I didn’t tell anyone I was wolf napping you today, wh—“ I almost asked why but then I realized the answer myself. “We’ll think of something.” I chuckled. I could have offered to tell a white lie and say she gave strict instructions to pop in while I was here. But Leah would hate that. She didn’t lie.

I climbed out of the Jeep and fell into step next to her. I rolled my eyes at her telling me to be on my best behaviour. “Please! If you think Mom’s love me, you should how much grandma’s do!” I gave her a cocky grin that faded instantly into a charmingly curious one.

A woman appeared from a door behind the counter, dark skin, and wild greying hair… various jars and tub in her hands. “Good morning.” I said with a wide smile. “You must be the famous Ms Jackie I’ve heard so about. I stopped at the counter and held out my hand when she set her cargo down. “Although Leah did forget to mention we’d be meeting such a beauty, I would’ve dressed for the occasion.”

Okay so another white lie the skinny jeans and V-neck always worked me especially with the leather jacket I wore to look more human during the Olympic winters.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Wolf napping?” Pushing my hands deep into my pockets, I made a scoffing sound. “Please, let’s not make that a thing. The pups will joke about wolf napping day and night.”

Call and his one liners were always making the rounds as it was with the pups.

But the thing that would be hard here was explaining how he would have the tea? “You know what, it doesn’t matter if anyone knows about this… I mean you’re here to help Ma out. And everyone knows nothing gets past me.” Even if the fact that the two of us together here like this all started because he did get past me. “It should be, okay?” We weren’t breaking any rules.

I rolled my tongue over my teeth, not saying a word as we came up to the store and went on in.

#Jackie gave me her trade mark smile. The kind that came from a person’s souls when they saw your face. Her warmth was unlike any other. The woman was strong but had a motherly tug to her too.

‘Well… Who did you bring in with you Leah?’ Her eyes were on Embry, taking him in all the way from his boots to his hair. And his words… they didn’t fool #MrsJackieClarke. ‘You could have warned this old lady, I would have brought my charmer and sweet talker repellent with me. Even if he is warming my eyes.’

Coughing into my hand to hide the laugh, I leant on the counter. Watching the two of them as she held her hand out towards him.

‘Are you this sweet to all the ladies? I bet you are.’ She teased.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and shook my head. "Like I would let the pups steal my ingenious witticisms." I smiled at her and nodded. "Exactly, we don't have to justify ourselves. We never have before... why start now?" I shrugged. "I showed up and randomly dragged you off to do chores for #Sue... It's not a lie and we all know how unpredictable I am."

I smiled again brushed one knuckle along her arm. "Of course, it will... We got this."

I chuckled at Jackie's response and glanced to Leah. "A kindred spirit I see." I turned to the women and nodded. "And yes I am... especially to the ones that deserve it. Considering you made the brew that's helped my mom so, I would say you are more than deserving."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The lightest of touches from him, seemed to resonate deep in me. The soft brush of his knuckles over my arm caught me by surprise.

‘Well young man if that is the case. You should know better than to leave a ladies hand outstretched without taking it immediately.’ #Jackie chastised Call for not shaking her hand. And I just raised my eyebrow. It was unlike him to miss a beat to flirt.

She tilted her head taking another good look at Embry. ‘This one looks like a bad boy.’

Taking her hand back as she walked around the counter. I couldn’t help but smirk. “You should see him in his work clothes. The tees get even tighter.” I mused.

#Jackie knew #Seth, and she knew #Mac too. I could see her mind working to identify who he could be. ‘This could only make you Tiffany’s young boy.’ She clapped her hand and squeezed my arm as she walked past me to stand in front of him.

‘You have her eyes and smile.’ Her look a little gentler now.

•- Embry Call -•

I cleared my throat; I had let myself get distracted by Leah so much that I hadn't noticed the lady had extended her hand. "Sorry... I was distracted y all the smells in here." All the different aromas were so strong in here that even a human couldn't help but notice. I feel like I've taken trip around the world and back again."

I gave a quick teasing glare. "It's a uniform, I don't get a choice."

I smiled at #Jackie again. "That would be me. But no one has a smile quite as perfect as Mom's..." I chuckled. "But I'd say I come pretty close in the rankings."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

‘Ahh… mission accomplished.’ #Jackie clapped her hands again. ‘It’s all about the journey our senses are able to take without leaving the spot. Some people can’t leave any other way. So…’

While #Jacket spoke of the ways the herbs and spices bought people to life and had their mains travelling from India to China. Or from Columbia to Mexico. I watched Embry. He had been distracted, not a lie. But by the teas? Even with all the scents? Hmm… not a hundred percent true. I tuned back into the conversation as #Jackie spoke of how uniforms stole a person’s personality away.

“Trust me if it were up to him. He would walk around shirtless.” Not just him, it was all of the pack.

#Jackie giggled, tapping Embry’s cheek like a grandmother would. ‘A handsome boy like you, got to work with what the gods gave you. And your smile is a part of it…’ she lowered her voice. ‘The dimples too.’

This time she turned to me and winked.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at #Jackie... it was clear that she had a passion for what she did here. Then her talk of uniforms... "I'm not about to complain. It is better than what they make the girls wear." I chuckled. "And in a club, it is important that people can pick out the security from the crowd. But I do agree, it wouldn't be my first choice."

I gave the lady another smile, a genuine one this time. "Thanks for noticing?" I winked. "Got those from my grandfather." Then I turned to wink at Leah just like #Jackie had.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Shaking my head I rolled my eyes at the both of them. How had this started with #Jackie putting Call in his place, and now she was taking his side?

‘Oh, your mom told me about him. A musician, wasn’t he? And with dimples? Your nana would have been smitten.’

I couldn’t help but smirk at how Nan would have been around his grandad when they first met.

“Okay...” I cleared my throat, straightening up now. “That’s enough of that.” Pointing to the teas in the many, many, many glass jars. “I need you to do me some of your magic here now.” #Jackie smiled nodding her head asking me what I needed. I told her the three blends I needed more of. “Also, Ms C. She’s feeling a lot more tired these days. So…”

The woman didn’t need anything more from me. ‘I know what I can add to Tiffany’s blend. Did she like the taste of it?’ #Jackie looked to me, and I in turn glanced at Embry.

“Well?”

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and turned to Leah... "Wait..." I smiled broadly and leaned on the counter. "You call you Grandmother Nana?" My brows pulled together. "You never mentioned that."

I shook my head a little at the woman's easy response. Looked to #Jackie and nodded. "Oh yeah, she really liked it... But seriously... You can make something to help with that?" I mean I knew tea was the first kind of medicine used.

I grew up on one reservation and had my summers on another... This wasn't a foreign concept, but all medicine had limits. "I mean the last one you gave her helped so much... I - " I stumbled over the words. I had no idea what I was going to say. "It's just..."

#Jackie gave me that look... the one the older nurses and doctors gave in the hospital, the pity and sympathy... only from her it didn't make me want to roll my eyes. 'It's not a cure, but there are a few things I can add to help. We keep trying till we find what works.' Then she gave a different kind of look. 'Why don't we try something for you... to help you sleep?'

I couldn't help the tell I knew I gave off, I chewed on my bottom lip. The best night sleep I'd had in ages wasn't really a night it was a morning... and on Leah’s couch.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I rolled my eyes at Call, was he losing his touch here today? But let #Jackie take this one as she laughed and spoke to him. ‘I was talking about your Nana Embry. Tiffany always calls her Nana Chenoa when she comes to see me here.’

I just shook my head crossing my arms over my chest, leaning in to whisper to him. “Lost your touch with the ladies today Call?” Letting my lips curl up into a smirk. “And you don’t have to look so pleased and/or shocked. I call my grandmother, Ulisi ( it meant Grandmother ), if you must know.

I stepped back seeing that Embry wasn’t fully on board with how teas could help. So, leaving the two of them to talk while I looked around the store, there was always something new to find, a new scent I’d never picked up before. Listening to #Jackie explain what teas could and couldn’t do.

‘Tea is not a miracle my boy, however if we listen to what our bodies are telling us. we can most definitely give them a little of what is needed.’ #Jackie had picked up a few jars and set them before Embry on the counter. As she opened them the fragrance filled my nose even from the other side of the shop, so I slowly made my way back towards them.

‘This is echinacea tea...’ She took out a spoonful and set it on a small metal bowl, handing it to Embry as she spoke. ‘It’s known to help with cold and flus. If you add a little turmeric root to this, it will help with inflammation inside the body.’ I was leaning on the counter listening too.

She set out another tea and gave it to him to smell. ‘This is holy basil tea, with benefits to give a healthy inflammation response, positive mood, boosted immunity, circulation, and detoxification. And if you bland it with….’ She thought and turned away searching for something. ‘There you are.’ Coming back with a long metal tube. ‘Mix in a little Goldenseal tea with its antibiotic properties. The tea can help to strengthen the immune system.’

I found listening to #Jackie fascinating. ‘So, we may not be able to perform miracles with tea, however you can see how mother nature has given us the ability to sooth and support our bodies while modern medicine does its thing.

And then she did what she did best. Humming to herself as she started to mix. ‘We will start with a base of green tea, because I can tell the boy does not need the caffeine hit.’ #Jackie was saying to herself. ‘Add a little bit of Valerian to it to boost levels of a neurotransmitter, with some Passionflower to calm any anxiety, and finally a little touch of Magnolia bark for reduced sleep disturbances.’ She mixed the tea up and then poured it into a paper bag, handing it over to him. ‘Have a sniff, while I go and print your label.’

My eyes were on him now, watching for his reaction, I whispered just for his ears. “You don’t have to drink it, not if you don’t want to. Jackie has this skill; she can see what people need without even knowing them.”

•- Embry Call -•

I shook myself and laughed. "Oh! Of course... Can't blame a guy for losing his train of thought around two gorgeous ladies like you."

I listened to #Jackie intently but part of my concentration was on Leah as she browsed the store. "Mom has definitely been in better spirits lately." I injected quietly... she had been spending far too much effort on planning for the worst... but the last few weeks had been different.

I tilted the bowl she handed me and examined the contents. Then she saw straight into the heart of me and started on a new concoction.

When she left me, Leah returned to my side. I sniffed the contents of the bag and smiled at her. "Who am I to scoff at the advice of the experts?" I tilted my head and bit my lip again, "Besides... it will be great for the nights that the rules come into play."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“You are something Embry Call, but we don’t break that easy.” Rolling my eyes at his flattery, I combed my fingers through my hair and stood up straight once again, pushing my hands into my pockets trying not to pay too much attention to the bite to his lips. This one wasn’t like the ones he did when we were alone. This bite was more about his thoughts and what he was sure and uncertain about.

“I mean it can’t hurt to try it out.” And then I turned to face him. “Why does Jackie think you need help with sleep?” I knew he had told me before Seattle that sleep had been bad for him. He had so much going on. But was he still worried about those things?

#Jackie returned with Embry’s name on a label and a second with instructions on how to make the tea and when to drink it. ‘Here keep these with this bag.’ She stuck the labels on the bag in Embry’s hands. ‘I’m going to start making the others now.’ And she was off while I stood looking at Call.

•- Embry Call -•

It was almost like she wanted to break those newly made rules... I licked my lower lip and dropped my eyes to the counter. Standing running her fingers through her hair. Tease! I wasn't made of stone!!

I controlled myself by making a list of all the ways I could make her pay when we were alone.

"Um." I cleared my throat." I don't really sleep great... most nights." I added the last part because... well; she knew, she had been there too.

I smiled a Jackie when she came back. "Thank you kindly, Miss Jackie." And then when she was off again listing tea names and whatever else, I turned back to Leah. "I have a feeling there's not much she doesn't notice."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I raised my eyebrow, tilting my head to the side because for once he was the one looking lost in his thoughts.

I took a step back away when #Jackie rushed past me to the jars behind us. I was used to watching her this way. The woman zoned out when she was creating her tea blends.

“Hmm…” I chewed the inside of my cheeks. Because now wasn’t the time to ask him why.

“Try the tea.” I shrugged my shoulders. “It may be a placebo effect if nothing else.” Turning to watching #Jackie out the side of my eye, I smirked. “She has her ways.” The woman was most definitely vigilant.

“Where would you like to go after here?” I asked. With the teas done, it was up to him after we left.

•- Embry Call -•

The bag in my hand smelled amazing... so I had no doubt that I would try it. "I will... I mean it hurt. Plus... I always have a failsafe." I grinned at her as #Jackie busied herself browsing her shelves at lightning speed.

I pulled out my phone and checked the time, then stuffed it right back into my pocket. "The music store? You can where your new friend #Tony works... you'll see where his love of music came from."

I smiled again, glancing at Jackie. "How many people do you buy #Jackie's remedies for?" I asked with a raised brow.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My glance followed #Jackie out the side of my eye, as I watched him too. Raising my eyebrow when he mentioned the music shop.

“Tony...” I hadn’t forgotten that man, but for some reason now he felt like a part of La Push and not Port. “Sure, I’m always up for a visit.” And I liked seeing music in its raw form. Sheet music… instruments… I wasn’t a browser in most stores. In, get what I want and out. But music and book stores. They were different.

I turned my attention to #Jackie fully this time. Watching her fill paper bags like she had for Embry and place then into a bigger box for me to carry.

“A few people on the Rez, Mac’s Mom, Billy, Michael, and June… Charlie in forks.” I shrugged my shoulders. Because I didn’t want anyone to think about it. It was just an unsaid drop and run, or Ma if I could talk her into doing it for me.

‘Leah dear.’ #Jackie called my name. ‘Did the last blend work for you?’ I nodded my head at her. ‘Okay, I will leave it the same… or no. I will add some turmeric root. Healing is good for a young woman. Even if I don’t pick up the need in you, it can’t hurt you.’ And she was gone in the back again.

“Somehow she knows healing isn’t an issue for me.” I muttered under my breath.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her, remembering #Tony's abysmal attempt at flirting with her. The thought made me chuckle and reminded me of him seemingly hitting it off with #Jessica.

"I want to check in with him about #Jessica. See if he has asked her out yet."

I watched #Jackie fill bag after bag as Leah told me her list of people. She really was something else... How had I missed it? I mean I knew she looked after her family and her pack... any she cared about. But I knew then; (Before Seattle) I had barely scratched the surface.

I just at her my eyes settling on her, for probably a few moments too long. But I couldn't help it, I felt like I had just broken through another layer of walls she built up around herself. Revealing even more wonders behind it.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Without thinking I took a few steps back and shook my head. “Why do you want to do that? Tony will get around to it if and when he can.”

Pushing my hands deeper into my pockets now, thinking why I didn’t like knowing about others business. But… then again…. “Okay. It’s Jessica… maybe…” it was a good idea? I didn’t want my little cousin waiting for a call that never came.

I hadn’t been looking at him, but when I finally did. He was staring at me, so I did what I knew best. I kicked him in the ankle.

“Stop that.” I growled.

“I’m not a piece of meat.” And then I snapped my teeth at him.

‘Leah Clearwater! No violent behaviour in my store. We need healing vibes young lady.’ #Jackie caught the snap of my teeth but not the kick.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled as Leah answered her own question. "#Tony is actually great boyfriend material... he just struggles with getting to the boyfriend stage and ends up friend-zoned or dating girls that treat him badly. He just needs a nudge and some confidence."

I was startled by the kick and straightened up. "Hey!" I groused. Not that it hurt, But I smirked at her. She knew it wasn't that kind of look I was giving her.

Fuck!! that snap was hot. She was really testing my self-control now. "You tell her #Jackie!" I beamed at the lady.

'Don't you think you weren't asking for it, young man!' She goaded me. And, of course.... she was right

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Embry had said that about #Tony before too, and I recalled the way #Tony had acted the first time he saw me. We soon broke that moment in his head. But after that, he was a kind hearted man.

“I’m sure you’ll keep him on track somehow.”

#Jackie set two large paper bags on the counter and turned them around so that the handles were facing me. ‘Just take a look and make sure I’ve not forgotten anything please dear.’ She gave me a wink and a smile.

I did as she asked, “just like always… It’s all there.” I took out my money from the back pocket of my jeans, placing it on the counter. “This should cover todays and back pay the tab too?”

She winked and took it. “Hey, Jackie. Count it.” I told her.

‘I trust you, Leah.’ She pointedly winked at Embry. ‘Him… I’m not too sure about. You’ll have to bring him back for another visit.’

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled. "He knows exactly what he should do... he's just too self-conscious to do it." I chuckled and shook my head. "I don't know what it is with him... With the pups, I always manage to give them a boost you know. But with #Tony... it never works."

I watched Leah and Jackie's exchange and smiled. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away, Ms Jackie." I winked at her. "If you think I'm charming now... just you wait." I pulled one of the bags on the counter towards me to carry it out for Leah.

"I'll be seeing you real soon." I stepped back from the counter and waited for Leah to lead the way.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

#Tony wasn’t like the pups. There was an element of the pups knowing that no matter what, Embry and the rest of the pack would always be there for them. Maybe #Tony didn’t feel that connection I wondered to myself.

#Jackie and I both watched Embry and then I felt her dark eyes burning the side of my face. “You asked for it now. Don’t say I didn’t warn you off of him.” Winking at her we said our good byes and I stepped out into the cool air once again.

“Jackie’s going to be asking after you now.” Had I just set myself up for a fall? She’d be talking about his charm and smile for years.

Glancing at the bag in my hand and then the one in his, before I found his eyes. “Where is the music store?” I was sure I knew, but it was best to have him lead the way.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled and glanced at her as we walked. "I tend to have that effect on people."

"She seems like a good woman... I like a woman that takes no BS from anyone." I grinned cheekily. "Even if she deals with it more subtly than others." Eyeing Leah in a way that she could only understand that others meant her.

"It's a street over from Lincoln Park." I smiled and opened the back of the jeep to put the bags in. "You love it in there. #Tony's Mom is amazing." I waited for her the slide her bag in next to the other one before I walked around to the driver's side door.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

It happened without thinking, as soon as we were out of sight from the Main Street, and his bag was in the back of his jeep. I reached out and punched his arm hard.

“I got that comment you know.”

Slipping my bag in next to the other before I went to climb into the passenger side.

“We all have our ways to keep those in our life in line. I have to be a little more obvious for the idiots around me to understand I’m correcting them.”

Sitting back, I raised my eyebrow to dare him to disagree. Because he was one of them. Point and case the time he and the others had a party at his house, and Paul got stuck in the window. And that was just the first example which popped into my head.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed, "Just making a casual observation." I shrugged and gave her a cheeky grin. I pulled out of the space behind the teashop and made my way towards the park.

I parked on the wrong side... like I did most of the time when I came here. I liked the excuse to walk through the park... listen to the buskers... or people watch. I unbuckled my seat and turned to look at her for a silent moment.

Biting on my lip because... damn!!! I wanted to kiss her, but the sight of people coming and going from the park (Even if they were strangers) told me this was not the place to break the rules. For now, at least.

"We're taking the scenic route today." I smiled and opened the door... before my infamous lack of self-control got the better of me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

He sat there looking towards me, and my eyes to start with remained on the park. He hadn’t taken us right up outside of the music store.

When I turned to glance over to him, my eyes were drawn to his lips. He had a meaning behind those bites. Each told of his intentions. And this one…

I shook my mind free and at the same time telling him to remember the rules. They were in place for a good reason.

“I’m fine with scenic.” I told him, checking the side mirror, before opening the door to his jeep to climb out again.

I straightened myself up, combing my fingers through my hair. And then I stopped. The mixture of sounds from within the park came to my ears. The musical voices singing, the instruments playing, added to it the hum of all the voices.

“Are you coming?” I asked, pushing my hands into my pockets. Heading towards the gates.

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned and locked the jeep... Port wasn't like home. "Good... Because the buskers in this park are crazy good. I always like to see whose out when I'm here."

I had a feeling Leah did the same, only she'd never be one to talk about it. She would just enjoy it for what it was.

I laughed, I had been staring again and she was a few feet ahead of me. "I'm just enjoying the view, Clearwater." I caught up to her and we walked through the gates, the sounds of strings, drums, and brass moved around us.

Now that last one... My head turned towards and turned back to grin at Leah before I followed it. "You coming?" I teased her.

( Music: "BAD GUY" - STREET SAX PERFORMANCE )

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Hearing the click of the jeep being locked made me press my lips together, biting back the comment about him leaving everything in his life unlocked.

Taking a step around a few people ahead of me, I knew the raw talent pool in this park was mind blowingly good. They all brought something unique to the table. And I made a point to come listen, but I always did it from afar. People and crowds weren’t my thing in the outdoors.

I stopped dead, he was thriving on this day out. And I knew the music would feed him even more. But the fact that I could feel his eyes on me, had me watching him now.

“Don’t enjoy the view too much, you’ll miss the arse kicking coming your ways if you’re distracted.”

As we made our way into the heart of the park, I could hear it all coming together. And as I let it sink in. Call was off. “Wh—?” I didn’t bother asking. Just pushing my hands deeper into my pockets, I started towards the sound of the sax.

“You are just like a child in a candy store.”

•- Embry Call -•

I tilted my head towards her and scanned her perfect form... "Worth it." I winked at her. Knowing only too well that doing so was taking my life into my hands,

I laughed at her comment. "What can I say? There are some joys in life that are just too good to resist. And like I've told you before..." I stopped at the edge of the circle of people watching the Sax player.

"Strangers.... always have the best candy."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My hands tightened into fists in my pocket.

‘Easy.’ My wolf whispered as the automatic reaction, and the want to punch him for winking at me. ‘It’s not the same anymore.’ And I muttered underneath my breath.

Listening to the Sax, the rendition of bad guy, it was so good. and then my lips curved upwards.

“I swear one of these days...” The line he had giving me a while back now making me smirk. “You are going to take candy from the wrong stranger.”

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned at her and dug into my pocket to drop some change into the sax case a few feet in front of him. "Good thing I have you to come and rescue me then, isn't it?"

I started walking down along the path again, taking the long meandering route that skirted around the outside of the park... wondering if that would annoy her. I knew she liked the direct route. She took so little time for herself.

"You don't mind taking the scenic route with me, right?" I quicked a brow, letting a little mischief into my voice.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Dropping a few coins out of my pocket to tip the Sax player I raised my eyebrow when he winked a thanks towards me. Men had a way to think a wink was a universal language. But as he was playing, I wouldn’t pull him up on it. ( And I was meant to be going easy today. )

I started to walk and then stopped on the path that broke up into four directions. One went though the middle of the park, there were vendors and more artistes playing or performing, but most importantly it was the direct way from one side to the other.

I was about to ask where Embry was going, but then pressed my lips together before talking.

“Scenic route? In the middle of Port? Sure.”

This was going to take some getting used to. The slowing down, the being in the moment thing he always spoke about. But more so, it was the tone in his voice, and what he didn’t say that had me intrigued.

“What’s so scenic about this path exactly?” I asked but started to take the way his body had turned.

•- Embry Call -•

"You can find something beautiful anywhere in the world, Trouble." I smirked over my shoulder at her as her legs caught her up to me. "You just have to slow down and let it find you."

Really it was just about taking things slow. Neither of us needed to get home in a hurry. "I have to say though... I am a little surprised. You aren't as bad at winging it as I thought you would be." I took my eyes off the path ahead.

"Makes me wonder what else I missed about you." I smiled. The woman was even more of an enigma than I believed her to be... and that really was saying something.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I knew this, beauty was everywhere when you truly allowed yourself to see it. But I also knew that in towns I never took the time. When I was on my rides or running into heart of the forests. Only my alone time in the Olympic national parks… That was when the beauty of mother earth called out to me.

I shrugged my shoulders. “There isn’t much to see here. I made sure there wasn’t.”

It was all about being hidden in plain sight. Even if it was hard for me. My height, my body, the way people turned to look. But that didn’t mean they saw the true Leah Clearwater.

"I'm still trying to understand... How you started to notice and see." It was like it happened over night.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled and shook my head. "Just because you were good at hiding things doesn't mean that I shouldn't have picked up on a lot of things I missed."

It was my thing... It was what #Jake relied on me for. To pick on things that he might need to deal with, with the pups. But then again... Leah wouldn't let anything interfere with her duties. But still...

"But the main thing is that my eyes are wide open now." I smirked and led her to one of the benches dotted along the path and took. "Come on... I patted the spot next to me. I'll show you what this scenic route is really about."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My hands were still pushed deep into the pockets of my jacket. It was a cover, body language that said ‘keep walking.’ If anyone wanted to stop me.

But my eyes were glancing at him sideways. “You…” I was going to say he couldn’t see what wasn’t meant to be seen. But I knew, I knew Embry would say it was his job to see it all.

So, I continued to walk in step with him until I was walking and he? I turned to see him sitting down on a bench.

“Here?”

I let my gaze moved all around. It was now the way I was, gauging the threat of there could be anything, where and how it could come.

��Just sit down, with two spirit warriors there is no way for danger to come up without us all seeing it.’ My wolf huffed.

Before I could think she pushed my feet forward and I was sitting down.

“Okay…” I crossed my legs and sat back. “What are we looking for?”

•- Embry Call -•

I didn't comment on the way she looked around at everything before finally sitting down. I just smiled at her and leaned back, tilting my head up and closing my eyes.

"Just close your eyes and listen." I wasn't sure that she would... not after the way she'd examined our surroundings before she would even sit down.

I heard it all through the sound of another heartbeat and breathing next to me was a new, welcome addition to the usual sounds of the park. I could hear singers, musicians, the speakers that played whatever the dancers were dancing to. everything from classical music to modern music milling together. the occasional small burst of applause and the jingle of coins.

"You can hear all of it from here."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Close my eyes?” The tone I used suggested that he was crazy for thinking that was something I would do. Out in the open like this? Where anyone could walked towards you? Okay, fine… the chances were we would hear them coming. But No.

“I don’t need to close my eyes to hear it all.” I found myself watching him now. He was so trusting, so open and welcoming. Nothing was a no go for him. He made the most of every experience he came across.

‘Walk half way Leah.’ My wolf pushed a little. Showing me that if I looked up to the sky where only the grey clouds sat waiting for the right time to open up. I would feel the same thing without closing my eyes.

So, I didn’t fight his request, just did it in another way. When I stopped, took a breath, I started to turn my head a little towards each sound I could make out a little clearer now.

•- Embry Call -•

I couldn't resist peeking over at her and fuck... That was a mistake. Because while her eyes were open, they were tilted up to the sky and her hair fell back... exposing a long column of her neck and fuck! I really wanted to lean over and kiss a slow, deep line up along all those tender... and not-so-tender spots... teeth and tongue and lips...

And my heart did that thing again. But I didn't try to cover it... other than to closing my eyes and tipping my head back again.

I wondered how long I could get her to sit here... knowing we still had things we needed to do.

"Sometimes I can sit here for hours." I said after a long moment. "Okay... so now pick something, what sound is tugging your attention. And that's where we go next."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Feeling his eyes on me, I knew that there was no way I would look down from the sky above me. Then there was the change in his heart. No one here could hear it; they couldn’t feel it. But I could.

I didn’t react, I didn’t tell him I could hear his heart, because let’s face it. He knew. What I did do was squeeze my hand that sat on my lap as I listened to him.

“I’ve never had all day to sit and watch the sky and the world go by.” There was always something to do in my life. And the down time that was forced on me, I managed to hike, ride, or if I felt that I had to hide I’d read.

“Pick a sound? Okay…”

It wasn’t the easiest thing for me to do. I had to try and stop myself from thinking of what needed to be done. What I could be doing rather than sitting here. Taking a few deep slowing breaths, the first sound I picked up with the steady beathing of his heart beside me.

I tried again, moving further away from the two of us. I let my mind and ears free. And there it was. I could hear it over every conversation, every other performance in the park. The music pulled itself to the forefront and then the words danced in my mind and on my lips.

‘Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars

We'll be counting stars

Yeah, we'll be counting stars…’

( Musi - Counting Stars - OneRepublic - Karolina Protsenko - Violin Cover)

“Far east side of the park, can you hear the violin?” I finally asked him.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled. I wasn't shocked I knew that it was true. "That's because you are always your very last priority, Leah. People like you are the ones that need to take an hour or two for themselves the most you know?" I said with a chuckle. "You spend so much time looking after everyone else... but none on yourself."

I smiled and homed in the sound. I couldn't help but remember #Sumina at the open mic night... Spirit's that girl was talented. Then again so was the young violinist who played in the park.

"Good choice." I smirked and stood up. "Let's go." I thought about extending my hand as a joke... but I wasn't in the mood to relocate my fingers today and possibly not be able to play for the rest of the day

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I wasn’t ready to home out from the sound, but his words shook and hit somewhere I didn’t even know existed. I never thought of myself because I didn’t need to. I was healthy, I was together ( better than I once had been ), and on top of that I knew it was better to give than to expect.

“I’m doing just fine.” I told him as I pushed myself up off the bench, pushing my hands into my pockets before I started to follow the sound of the violinist. It was a sound I found myself drawn to more so these days. Why? I didn’t know. But the Guitar, the piano and not now.

“How old do you think she is?” I asked him without glancing at him. She was here often; I’d noticed her playing, listened as I walked in the park in the past.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled and turned to her as we walked." I know you are... but you also deserve to do something that just for you every once and a while."

I stood next to her and smiled at the kid as she played and gave her mom a smile wave where she stood, proudly recording her little genius. "She's 13." I smiled. "And she's amazing. But if you tell her I said that I'll lie." I chuckled. When she finished the crowd clapped and several stepped forward to drop a few coins.

She skipped over and gave me a gave me a high five. "Hey kid." I teased her. "This is my Leah. Why don't you show her what you can d when you play a real song?" flashed her and grin and she gave me that teenage eyeroll.

'Teasing a kid to impress a girl? Boys are so stupid.' She said and turned her attention to Leah. 'You're far too pretty for him.' she teased right back and ran back to her spot to play.

( Music: Believer - Imagine Dragons - Violin Cover by Karolina Protsenko )

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I saw the interaction between the woman stood filming the performing girl. And it clicked by her features that this was the girls mom. Raising my eyebrow at how he managed to answer the question about the kids age and then the wave.

“Of course, you know her and her mom.”

I clapped with the others, glancing over to the other performers certain Call knew more of them too, or knew someone who knew them maybe?

I blinked but kept my reactions in check, we were in public with people filming all around us. But I replayed his words. ‘This is my Leah.’

What was he saying? He must have meant friend… ‘This is my Friend Leah.’ Right?

I schooled my features holding out my hand to the youngster and shaking hers. Her eye roll was killer, I liked her.

I pressed my lip’s together before replying. “Right, I keep telling him I’m out of his League, and he needs to stop embarrassing himself.”

At thirteen the girl was on it. She started to play Believer, making me turn my gaze to Call.

“I like her.”

•- Embry Call -•

“It’s not my fault the woman looks far too young to have a teenage kid.” I grinned, sure I had been hitting on her the first time in introduced myself, but single moms were never my thing, unless it was clear that only wanted what I did too. And this kids mom wasn’t that type or woman. “Besides it would be creepy if I just randomly spoke to the kid and didn’t introduce myself to her mom.”

“Some people are worth embarrassing yourself for.” I laughed and winked a Leah. The joke was one I have jumped at the opportunity to make even before our new path, so I figured it was fair game. The kid made a gagging sound before she left us.

“#Vik is amazing.” I admitted when she was playing. “She’s gifted… and she works so hard. She’s going to do amazing things.” It was true, she was going to have an amazing career.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“It’s clear this mom shot you down. The woman has brains.” As the words left my lips out of the old habit of how we just naturally managed to banter, it occurred to me. As he was in my bed most nights now, what did that make me? Foolish? Silly? Crazy? Or evolving with the times just as he was?

“Spirits.” I muttered to myself at his comment about people being worth the embarrassment. “There was a time, that comment would have meant your arse was going to hit the ground.” I told him, then I was watching the girl again.

“Vik…” I wondered if it was short for Vicky? Victoria maybe? “She’s a performer that’s for sure.” The confidence in which she strutted about before the people watching her. The flare which exuded from her. “She will go far.”

I felt eyes on me, so I turned to find the mom looking at me. She smiled and waved, still watching Embry and then me. So, I nodded my head to her. It was clear she was proud and dedicated to her daughter.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed and shook my head. "They're regulars at the music store. I wouldn't mess with families' business." My eyes flickered to her... Was this the first time I had expressed to her that Tony was like family? But there was a solid twenty percent chance she could have shot me down if I had really put in the effort for the come on.

"Violence in front of the children, Trouble." I shook my head. "What would your mother say!" I chuckled and then realised that I would now need to live in this park to avoid my arse hitting the ground the moment we were out of sight of anyone with an impressionable mind. "Looks like I still have a lot to teach you about using your words." I teased and the gathered people clapped for the young musician.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Raising my eyebrow, I bite down on the inside of my cheeks. Replaying the words 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨' 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. So, to Embry… #Tony and his mom were like family? That has been the first time he has said it. Until now I had imagined them being friends… but Family? That bond was something that needed to be respected. And now I was begging to see a clearer picture.

My jaw clenched I clapped with the others as #Vik finished playing Believer. “You know something? Evolution sucks when you can’t punch a guy for being nice of in front of kids.” I was going to need to have words with #TheGreatWolf about these rules I had set for myself.

‘You know his answer, Leah. You set the rules, not #TheGreatWolf.’ I swear my wolf was trying to hide her laughter.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed but flashed her a smile. "Maybe you could try 𝕟𝕠𝕥 punching a guy when he is being nice to you in the first place?" I teased her. "I know it's a radical concept... but maybe try it out for a day or so." I chuckled.

I dropped a twenty into the violin case... knowing that every cent she earned here went to pay the tuition for her arts school education. I winked at her as she started on her next song and nodded to Leah to see if she was ready to follow. "Ready to see had to the music store? Hopefully, you won't be too disappointed that #Tony only has eyes for #Jessica now."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Where’s the justice in that? And always… I don’t make promises, not ones I know will be hard to keep.”

Taking some money out of the back pocket of my jeans I placed it down. Giving the young girl a wink when she thanked me. She was polite and talented, I made a note to look for her the next time I came to port.

I combed my fingers through my hair, and then started in the direction he had. Pushing my hands back into my pockets as I kept my eyes forward.

“Tony knows where he stands with me.” Just one look at him at the open mic night was enough.

“How often do you go to the music store?” I asked.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed, that was exactly the response I was expecting... and Leah Clearwater never disappointed. I knew she'd made herself clear with #Tony... but that didn't mean that I wasn't going to tease them both mercilessly! Just separately... If I teased #Tony in front of her he may just shrivel up and die.

"Every time I'm in town... Or when they run an event. But anytime they get in something #Tony lets me know. With the new equipment hire service, he spends more time in Forks... and they are looking opening a second store there too. So I see him whenever I can."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pushing my shoulder to the side as a kid came racing by in a bike, her dad ( I assumed ) casing close behind her. I stopped to make sure she was okay, before continuing to walk. Still looking after them over my shoulder I listened to him.

“It’s nice to have an 𝕀𝕟 with a good music store.” And I should have known Embry Call would have that connection with #Tony and his mom’s store.

“Wait… did you just say they are expanding to Forks?” This was news to me.

“How are they planning on managing the two stores?” Truly interested in anything when people were going to be expanding.

•- Embry Call -•

"It's all about who you know, Trouble." I winked at her. "Why do you think I'm keeping the local bar owner close." I watched her watching everyone else and smile to herself. Remembering how she'd been with #Bear on the beach.

"You know that it's okay if she falls right?" My smile softened... "Actually... it's kind of essential."

"They've talked about it before, but I guess #Tony is starting to look at locations now... So, they must be pretty serious." I shrugged and thought about it... the Port store was too busy to be run by just one of them. "I suppose they'll have to hire someone to run the one in Forks. Or maybe someone to help out here while #Tony runs it?" I was thinking out loud.

"Honestly I've no idea... I've been kind of a lousy friend lately... trying to keep mom looked after. I only half-listened when he was talking about it."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Not sure the local bar owner was given a choice in the matter, trust me, she’s tried to get rid of you.” Rolling my eyes are him as I said it.

“Hmm?” My glance moved back to the little girl and her father and then to Embry. He had caught me watching? “Doesn’t mean she can’t understand the difference of falling alone, verses falling and knowing there will be hands there to catch you.” I said thinking that not all lessons had to be hard ones. Did they?

Biting on the inside of my cheeks, as he spoke about #Tony’s explanation plans ( or the little he knew about them ), “I’ll make a note to keep an eye open if something came up in Forks. After everything Tony had done at the bar, it’s the last I can do to help him if he is bringing a new business close to home.”

The last part tugged at me because I knew how much he took it to heart. “I’m sure Tony understands. You aren’t brushing him off, or not listening, you just have MsC on your mind. I’m sure you will make it up to him.”

•- Embry Call -•

"Has she though?" I quirked a brow and played with fire. "I mean she could have easily incapacitated me and left me in the dust... but yet she keeps letting me come back."

I chuckled at her...she was right of course. I leaned over and spoke quietly. "That's what that guy is for." I smiled. pointing quickly and discreetly at the man following her.

"I know he doesn't. #Tony doesn't have it in him to see the negative in anyone. That's part of why I thought about setting him up with #Jess... she wouldn't take advantage of a guy like that. #Tony would have sold everything he owned if he knew I had trouble keeping up with Mom's bills." I smiled because it was true. "It's just the kind of guy he is."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my eyes, I wasn’t going to go down that path of ‘What if I kicked his arse.’ Because there was still a part of me that wondered if I was doing right by him… just by being here… was I giving into something that would cost him in anyway?

I pushed my hands deeper into my pockets. Not looking after the little girl after witnessing her father taking a hold. “She’s a lucky kid.” Is all I had to say.

Something hard hit my chest, as the wind picked up and blew my hair. With the guilt of knowing how I had wronged Call and #MsC “Yeah, he sounds like a good friend.”

And here I was… his Beta… and I didn’t even see the black hole he was falling into until it was so late.

“I’m sure Jess will thank you. She’s not the kind of girl to take advantage of anyone. The girl has the Clearwater blood in her.”

•- Embry Call -•

I wasn’t sure what it was, but there was a shift I. The air between us… and I knew that is wasn’t just that her father came to her mind. There was denying she was eternally grateful that she had he’d her father through those same years that this child was going through. “She really is.” I smiled, unable to stop myself remembering Billy… before the chair, teaching me to ride my first bike. That he had bought for me off someone in the tribe whose kid had outgrown he. He even went out of his way to spray paint it fire engine red.

I found myself hoping that this little one had the chance to take for granted how lucky she was well into her adult years. Until she was old enough to look back and appreciate these moments. I found myself suddenly wanting to reach out and brush my finger up along her arm where her hand was tucked away firmly in her pocket.

It was a strange and welcome want, but one I couldn’t act on here. Instead, I veered into her until my arm bumped against hers and I smiled. “We had our share of that too.” And we did… but we’d had more than our share of the opposite of it too.

“#Jess is a good kid.” I laughed. “I’m shocked she hadn’t been… well.” I gave her a look… she knew. The Clearwater blood held strong magic. I was stunned she’d been imprinted on by one of the younger pups.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I could sense the change in his direction, grounding myself as much as I could as we walked. But I didn’t need to. Embry just barely grazed my shoulder with his.

I told myself I was being overly cautious, but who could blame me when it came to this man? The last time he came at me… he kissed me… and the time before… he took the two of us flying off the edge of the cliffs.

“Hmm… I know we did.” I said straightening up without breaking my stride. “It’s why we can identify and appreciate it when we see it in others.” Life didn’t have to be all one way; the hard times are the ones that made us who we were.

I turned my eyes from the approaching park gate towards him, with my eyebrow raised. Because he wasn’t the only one who thought about #Jess and asked the same question.

My brows pulled together as I spoke now.

“Yeah, ma was wondering the same. Jessica, Emma… we’ve been keeping an eye open with them both. Ma’s even gone as far as retelling the girls our stories the way Da did, and Billy does for the schools. Just a little more detail for them to hear and think about.”

“With their bloodlines, they could be called upon. It’s our responsibility to keep them safe and aware.” Even if we couldn’t tell them everything.

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed softly. "Don't worry... I don't plan on jumping you here... I mean it's not without its difficulties. But somehow, I'm restraining myself."

I smiled at her. I always tried to find the silver lining... or at least I did most of  the time. When Mom got sick, I slipped a lot more than I used to, but that seemed pretty normal... considering. But how had I missed the Leah did the same thing? She wasn't big on saying it out loud but still... I should have noticed  it.

"I don't either of them that well... but I think #Jessica would take to pack seamlessly. But That doesn't mean she can't try dating for now. She should be happy when she can... not waiting for a maybe."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Didn’t even have to think, my hand jolted out and I smacked him upside his head.

“That’s not funny.” A joke like that on the Rez would coast him a hard arse punch in the gut. As we were off Rez, he was getting a warning.

My heart sank a little as we stepped out the  park gates, I could still hear all the music. However, the atmosphere was being left behind. I told myself I would make sure I came to Port more often and come have lunch here to take it all in. ( knowing full well, I wouldn’t find the time for it. But it was in the bucket. )

“Jess is friends with everyone, she is easy going and takes it all in her stride just like Seth…. Emma...” I cracked my neck remembering how I caught her missing school to be with a boy.

“Yeah… that girl needs more time with me. To learn the meaning of education and self-worth.”

She was so bright, pretty, and intelligent. But teens and their one-track minds!

•- Embry Call -•

“Ow!!” I exaggerated and rubbed the back of my head... Then promptly fixed my hair. “Not the hair!” I laughed, it wasn't a joke I would have made if we hadn't been far from home, and she knew that too... But I had also earned the  slap.

Leaving the park behind was like the number at the end of a concert you'd been waiting weeks for. But the music shop was only a block away now and that was a whole new world of music.

Her reaction to the mention of her cousin #Emma did not go unnoticed. There was a story there that I wanted to ask about... But when it came the Leah and family it was best to let her decide what to reveal on her own.

“I could make it a few calls if you want... My old music teacher it  pretty active in the art community on the res and in Forks. Is she interested in music or dance? Or maybe volunteering with one of the groups of little kids? I'm sure time with you would help... But time with herself is great too and her  peers.” I posed the options as we had added the direction of the store.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“You and your hair will live.” I mocked keeping in step with him. I didn’t notice when the frown started to appear on my forehead. But the more I thought about #Emma, the deeper it became.

“Her peers in one thing…” but the path she is on… “Embry… you don’t have to do that, but if you know of a way to keep her busy doing good for the tribe, I won’t say no.” I didn’t want to give him more to add to his already full life.

“Or if you could give me the number? I could work it out.” He has work and his mom to worry about. My family didn’t need to be added to the list.

“Do you…” biting the inside of my cheek I stopped. Shaking my head.

“Listen do you think I go too hard of the young ones in the tribe?” I had to ask now. Because he was becoming that voice that told me the facts.

•- Embry Call -•

I gave a small laugh. "I don't have to do anything... I offered because I could. And try to remember most kids aren’t like we were... their peer group changes. We were different cases, there were only so many people that could understand what we were through. And for you? I know you wouldn't say you didn't have the pack as yours... but..." I sighed. Because it was true, we had left her out in the cold.

"I'll give you the number if you want... but..." I gave her a grin. "A  guy like me... recruiting for the local musical? I think I can pique her interest. It's up to you though." I would do whichever one she felt was best.

I could see the way her mood shifted, how her cheek puckered a little with the tick of  hers, "Too hard..." I shook my head. "No... you know what they are capable of and want them to live up to it. But I do think you should tell them that... show them why you expect what you do and that you only expect it because you know they can accomplish all of it."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Combing my fingers through my hair, I tugged on it a little. Looking up to the sky as the cool air kissing the balls of my cheeks. I closed my eyes for a few seconds before I was back again.

“I know…” and I did. Those in the pack had a built-in brotherhood. A deep connection  that couldn’t really be broken. And to it the imprints, they straightened the bonds.

But #Emma. She didn’t have that. She had her older cousins. And I wasn’t easy of her or any of them.

“I don’t want to push her so hard, that there is no coming back.” For the first time I was telling someone a fear. Not one for me, but one for a young girl I didn’t want to cause pain to.

Sideways I glanced at him.

“Are you saying you are planning on charming my kiddo cus into doing what you want? Because Embry Call… there  is a name for men like that.”

•- Embry Call -•

I let her have her short moment. "Maybe you need to stop focusing on the thing you want her to stop doing and try giving her something to replace those things with?" I raised a brow. "Why do you think so many of the pups play guitar or sing? I have limited skills to offer..." Then I laughed. "I know all the guys aren't massively dedicated to school, but I dare you to find one that isn't acing math. #Quil has that covered. #Jake has History and practical mechanic skills  down. #Rachel has them tech-savvy. You have defensive and offensive strategies... even if the second one is the last resort. #Seth makes sure they are little arseholes... We all have something unique to offer. So... so what can you offer Emma? What can you give her instead of taking something away... and trust me, all that destructive behaviour will fade out when you lead her to the right path."

I laughed again and shook my head, holding up my hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm just helping out with a local show... if she's more inclined to sign up because a 20 asks her? Well, that's hardly my fault now, is it?" As if on cue a group of older teenagers passed us on the street... it was hard to tell who was checking out who... but most of them turned their heads as we passed. "And I do believe those men are called Role Models…" I over-pronounced the words. "At least, I think that's how you say it."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My feet came to a dead stop, making myself turn and face him. My eyebrows pulled together.

“How did you become so in tune with the young ones?” Of course, I knew how, and when. I knew full well what he and #Quil were doing by having their doors open to the pups.

But just how that all changed the paths of our pups, and then had a domino effect on their friends… that all was only now coming to light for me.

“Show her what she could be doing, what she is missing. Not what she is doing that is wrong.”

How hadn’t I seen this in Embry? Chewing on the inside of my cheeks I took him in and what he was saying. I spoke of the roles, and yet he was identifying them, acknowledging them. And leaving no place for me to hide. And my lips curled up into a smirk when he spoke of #TheKid.

Turning back around I started to walk. My eyes ahead as my mind was working on full power. What could I give #Emma to help her. And without knowing that she was being back from the broken path she was starting to walk.

“Hmm?” I didn’t take note of who passed by, just what he was saying. “Role models… sure… that’s what we will call it.” Rolling my eyes.

“Jokes aside. You could talk anyone into doing what you want. I’ve seen you in action remember.” Raising my eyebrow. “Art of conversation and all.” That was a moment I heard the voices of the teens

•- Embry Call -•

"Unlike you, I used to be one of those young ones." I laughed. "Not all of us were born with the burden of righting all the world's wrongs."

I nodded. "Exactly. The more you try to take away or stop the more they slam on the brakes. You  need to find something that they'll enjoy... even love... if you can find their passion..." I smiled. "Well, if you can find that... the kid is going to shine."

I smiled. "That's how I found #Collin and #Brady their apprenticeships... It didn't settle Fuller down as much... but The Goofball stopped most of the reckless things that the new lease of health gave him." Even if the boy's idea of rebelling was kind of laughable.

I shook my head and glanced back... The guys in  the groups rapidly shifted their gazes away from Leah. I laughed at the realisation of why none of them dared say anything.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Pulling my eyebrows together, I bit the inside of my cheeks. “I’m not sure if you just complimented me, or if I need to punch you in the chest for being disrespectful.” Again, he had a skill with works, whereas I just gave people a death look, and they moved away.

“Fine… I think this came be done your way, when it comes to the next gen of the tribe, you know I’m willing to give anything a go.” The time I had recently witnessing the pups at his and #Quils home, it was proof their plan worked.

“The goofball and his shadow weren’t they much of an issue. Other than #Brady always trying to sweet talk the others into trouble. And the goofball following me around.”

Thankfully he grew out of that habit. I glanced back to see what had his attention. “Those lot are too young for you.” I teased.

•- Embry Call -•

"It's not a bad thing... I mean yeah you were more responsible than most when we were young. But it's not like you didn't know how to have fun or anything." I shrugged my shoulders. "It was just part of the Leah Clearwater mystery... Still  is."

I laughed loud. "Oh yeah! because weren't socialising with the pack after hours when they were old enough to drink..." (16 in my book... but #Quil was having none of that) "And Fuller developed the habit of taking all his clothes off when he drank moonshine... He made #Paul's dick pics in the group chat seen G-rated."

I laughed and shook my head. "The guys are afraid to check you out in case I kick their arses..." I raised a brow at her. "If only they knew the truth!"

It was her they should worry about, not me.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Yeah.. punch in the chest.” I said as I walked now facing the right way.

“There is a mystery about me, because like to keep somethings just to myself. Is it any different to the pack not knowing about you playing the piano?”

Rolling my eyes, I was glad I didn’t have to see those pictures. “Paul’s thing gave nightmares.” Well not real ones, as I was never in my sleep long enough to dream or have nightmares.

“Guess it’s a good thing your wife has you all in order.”  Because let’s be honest, out of them all, #Quil was bad at time keeping, but he still had his head on the right way.

Turning to catch a couple of the boys in the group just looking away.

“Please…” scoffing a little. “You would most likely be giving them tips on how to get the best view point of my arse.”

•- Embry Call -•

"I'm not saying mystery is a bad thing... we all need to keep a little something for ourselves. In fact, I think a lot of people should probably keep a little more for themselves..." I shrugged, I was including both Leah and me in that too. "Just figuring out what to keep to ourselves can be where we go wrong." That part was definitely about me. "But you are who you are..." I smiled at her. "And you don't apologise for it. That's a very good thing."

I laughed and shook my head, looking mock offended. "Please!! It's like you've never met me, Clearwater!" I started to cross the street to the music store. "I would be looking for the best angle to view your arse while you kicked theirs!"

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Okay that wasn’t the reply I expected from Embry Call. Mocking me from not using my words, for being too closed off, for be too hard on the pups and the packs. Yes, all those things I knew how to deal with. But, when he took me off guard thing way. I didn’t know what to say, (Which worked out well for me, because I didn’t say much as it was. )

I crossed the street with him, my eyebrows pulled together as I thought about what he said. What it would mean to know what to keep and what to share with others, it was hard for some. But for me it was the fact that I didn’t share a thing.

“How dare I underestimate you and your ability to multi task.” The fact was I knew he would do some crap like that.

•- Embry Call -•

It was only when I saw the look on her face I laughed. "Okay... that might sound like a bit of a contradiction coming from me. But there is something to be said for having something that is just yours." I smiled at her. "Like playing the  piano." I tilted my head and lowered my voice for only her to hear. "To share with just one person."

"You know... to be an individual just ever since and a while."

I chuckled. "Can you blame a guy for wanting to check out that arse? It’s perfect."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my tongue over my teeth, I smirked as a thought dropped into my mind.

“Is that another way to say; ‘Leah, you were right’? Because we know how hard a declaration is for you.”

Even if of late the two of us had learnt to acknowledge such things.

“Is that so?” I snapped my teeth at him. That deserved a kick, I lifted my foot and took it behind that ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 arse and side kicked his.

“Keep your eyes on the sidewalk, wouldn’t want you to go flying off it.”

•- Embry Call -•

"Would you believe me if I told you, it was?" I quirked a brow my grin neither confirming nor denying what she had said.

I sidestepped but I was a second too late... not she would intentionally hurt me. It was just an ego thing to try and  be faster than her. "I knew you were going to do that. "I chuckled and pulled open the door to 'Dulcet Tones'

"Welcome to the real happiest place on earth." grinned and held it open for her... it was a chivalry thing... I just wanted  her to get the full impact of the space. The back wall was an aesthetically pleasing array of guitars in all colours and types. There were three drums in a semi-circle just in front of the... one of which seemed to be occupied by an  interested customer. A pianoforte was set up to the right of us. The catalogue of the piano in their warehouse stood proudly in front of it.

To the left were the displays of the more classical instruments, violins... brass wind instruments and cello and even a full-sized harp. Not the mention shelves and baskets of books and sheet music.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Whatever Call.” I said with a grin flowering on my lips. I knew he would have wanted to get out of my reach, but speed was my speciality. Four legs I ruled, and two I was still faster than them.

At first I looked up to the sign reading ‘Dulcet Tones'. The name had the sweetness to it. It was so #Tony, so I could imagine what his mom would be like.

My eyebrow raised the moment Embry pushed the door of the store open. Was he asking for another kick on his arse? Did he think I needed a man to hold a door open for me? But then my eyes moved past him and into the heart of the space that he was letting me access. And the smartarse comments on my tongue melted away.

My feet moved by themselves as my brown eyes moved slowly from the right of the space taking it all. In. “Where does somebody even start?”

The words were my inner thoughts freely flowing into the world because I looked upon it all in awe.

•- Embry Call -•

I saw that flash of ‘what the hell is he doing’ in her eyes and then watched it vanish when she turned her attention to the store.

I smiled and watched her scan the walls and displays. I could hear the voice I wanted to  hear coming from the back as she shuffled back out into the store with papers in her hands.

"I know where I always like to start." I said for her ears only and made my way over to #Tony's Mom. Her face lit up when she saw me.

'Embry!' She beamed. 'Mio caro! ( My dear ), It's been far too long.' I hugged and leaned down so she could kiss both my cheeks. 'My Antony tells me he heard you sing? You break my heart! You would never for me or your mama.' She swatted my chest, and I just shook my head.

"Well, that would be her fault." I put my hand on Lucille's shoulder and started back toward Leah. "I lost a bet to this one." I smiled at Leah. "This is Leah Clearwater, Leah... This Is Lucille. #Tony's mom and the owner of this fine establishment."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I decided to let his comment roll off my back, there were too many things in this store I wanted to see up close. As I took a step closer towards the guitars all hung on the wall, the sound of small footsteps stopped me, and I looked back over my shoulder.

Embry made his way towards the short white-haired woman, her olive toned skin, her eyes, and the way her mouth was set told me all I needed to know. She was related to #Tony in some way. The sound of her voice, and the way she teased Embry made me warm to her.

I took a few steps towards her with my hand held out. “Ciao Signora Franco.” ( Hello Mrs Franco ) I said, and she beamed looking to Embry and then to me again.

‘Tu parli italiano?’ ( You speak Italian? ) I looked at her lost and with a blank face.

“I’m sorry, Hello is as far as my Italian goes.” And she laughed sweetly at me. I was glad to have remembered something from one of #Macs ex-girlfriends.

She said motioned for me to come down towards her, and I did. Placing her hands on my cheeks she smiled. ‘Bellissima.’ ( Beautiful ) It took everything in me not to pull away. The blessing from an elder were respected in our people, and I wouldn’t disrespect her by stepping out of her reach.

‘You should call me Lucille.’ She continued. ‘And you should also tell me how this one lost a bet to you. Not that I need too much explanation. I can see with my eyes how it happened.’ I shifted and stiffened a little bit.

“It was a simple bet in my bar, that’s all.” I told her. Keeping my voice even.

•- Embry Call -•

My eyes darted back to Leah with a wide grin. She was just full of surprises. I hadn’t tried to tell her that my singing wasn’t something to hold your breath in anticipation for. That would only earn me a smack across the back of the head…  running theme with the women in my life.

I smiled… for someone so guarded Leah was really great with motherly women. I couldn’t imagine many other people that she wouldn’t dodged from trying to touch her like that. I probably should have  warned her about jaw affectionate Mrs Franco was. But her hugs and kisses were just something that was part and parcel of visiting the store.

‘This boy always knew how to bite off more than he could chew.’ She laughed and I wondered if  Leah was wary of sharing the details of our bet. I on the other hand… new that this woman had a filthy sense of humour beneath the motherly exterior.

‘Come now. Let me take a proper look at you.’ She clapped her hands on my arms and squared  my shoulder’s. ‘I hope you are eating well… you know all the gym and weights aren’t enough to keep a boy strong.’ I rolled my eyes at her playfully. ‘And your mama needs good food, do I need to send her a care package?’

I shook my head. “No, Mrs. Franco. Mom is well looked after in the regard. But she loves getting her music magazines and sheet music from you. And she could get by without her phone calls from you eaves week.” I turned my gaze back to Leah. “It’s Leah and  her mom actually that keep the fridge full, we really could get by without them.”

Mrs Franco’s hands moved to rest on her heart. ‘Oh, my goodness! You are #Sue’s Leah? I should have known the moment you came in. Tiffany talks about you and  your brother so much.’

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The moment she let her hands drop from my face I straighten up. Waiting for her to turn her attention back to Embry before I took a couple of steps back.

I took a few deep breaths, my eyes glancing around the store to give the two of them some privacy. But then my eyes kept moving back towards them.

Embry always had a way with women of all ages. From kids to the grand moms, and everyone in between. But with a handful of ladies, there was a difference in him. And I couldn’t help but see that in him now.

I shook myself out of my thoughts when  the conversation came back to mom, and then her attention was back on me again.

“Really, it’s mom. She does all the hard work. I just deliver the goods.”

Clearing my throat softly, as she continued. Standing and having someone know you without seeing wasn’t knew. and leave her to do her thing. How much I missed out on!

•- Embry Call -•

I shook my head. "She takes the humble and modest thing to the extreme." I smiled, between the two women. "But she has really been our saviour lately. I didn't even think she realises how much." My gaze locked in Leah as she took in the store.

Lucille gave me a look and then joined Leah. 'Do you play anything?' she asked the first she always asked. She started to look Leah over. 'Ah... no.' She smiled. 'You are your own instrument, but it's never to let to nurture a new  talent.'

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Making a mental note for myself to punch Embry Call when we were alone. I allowed the small woman to guide me around the store.

Her eyes were on me, as though she could see something no other could. I shook my head at her question, strumming a few strings on a guitar didn’t make a talent.

“I wouldn’t say I do; I don’t really have the time to do what it would take to learn something just this.” Pushing my hands into my pockets as I followed her around the store. #Tony and his mum had clearly put in a lot of thought.

•- Embry Call -•

Lucille smiled at her. 'Music doesn't always have to be a full-time dedication. That's what I love about selling instruments sometimes it's the only thing people going and sometimes it's people that just want an hour week to learn something new. There's always something new to  learn, there are endless possibilities of notes and chords. Like the world around us.'

I loved listening to Mrs Franco about music. Nobody that entered this store left without the desire to start learning to play something and a rekindled desire to keep learning.

I  plucked a beautiful wild cherry red guitar from the wall and sat on one of the stools set up in front of them. 'Oh, I don't think that one is for you, it has a very narrow neck you have very large hands.' Lucille said from her place next to Leah. She wasn't wrong... but I  also still played my very first guitar from when I was fifteen years old. I strummed a few chords and they sounded good.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I really shouldn’t have been shocked or surprised. #MrsFranco was a river of knowledge when it came to the Instruments as well as people too.

The passionate way she spoke to me about how things were, the way her eyes missed nothing in her store, the way she corrected Embry after he lifted the wrong type of guitar for himself. I was left speechless.

I stood back, looking at the way Embry felt right at home in this place and with this woman. He sat himself down with a beautiful cherry wood instrument, and then without thinking his fingers started to pluck.

‘And still, he makes it look so easy.’ She muttered standing beside me. While I think how he really did.

The door to the store opened, taking #MrsFranco attention for a moment. ‘I will be right back, I giovani ( young ones )’ Smiling she walked towards the girl who came in with a short blonde bob, and a case in her hand.

“Are you planning on buying a new one?” I looked down again, and asked Embry.

•- Embry Call -•

I tried not to smile when I heard Mrs Franco... knowing what she said should've only been heard but Leah. I was used to it...when I found my guitar in a thrift store; I'd assumed there wasn't much difference... I knew there were half and three-quarter sizes for kids... but other than that, finding a guitar that particularly suited me wasn't something that occurred to me.

I smiled at Leah. That was a complicated question. "Always..." My smile grew. "And never." I laughed.

"#Jake and #Quil call it decision paralysis. It's my one and only flaw." I bragged.

They weren't wrong. It was why my mom had lost her mind when we were looking for my very first car. I couldn't pick one... so she did. #Jake and #Billy had weighed in heavily with advice... and I still drive that vehicle today. Because it was perfect. My first moped? I found it on a curb waiting to be hauled to the junkyard and the owner handed it over without hesitation, saying if I could  fix it was mine. My bike... that was a different story. That old lady was meant for me.

"I'm not sure if you've heard about my reputation for never getting rid of anything. But it's... possibly a little true." I laughed. Most people assumed it was exaggerated because I owned very little... other than music... as in actual albums or book and stack sheet music. "In my defence... I own very little that's not worth keeping."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Always and Never…” I raised my eyebrow, and pushed my fingers into my pockets deeper listening to him.

His still played with the strings of the guitar, but I had to shake my head. When I glanced over my shoulder I saw #MsFranco speaking animatedly to her customer.

“Embry Call, anyone who knows you. Knows this.” My eyes were back on him.

He didn’t have much just like the rest of us. But there was a reason Ma called him an old soul. He was a member of the old boys club, at least this was how most of the pack saw him.

“If the music sheets sprawled all around your bedroom isn’t an indicator. Your Jeep… the bike…. Things the kids give you on your fridge.

And… Let’s not talk and the old tees from all the concerts too. #TheKid was telling me… MsC and Ma tried to get you to donate some of them, and still you kept some.”

Most people would call this man a semi hoarder.

•- Embry Call -•

I saw her reaction... She was the type of woman that always knew what she wanted. I had four guitars to my name, my first one, a second one that Tony had given me after he'd upgraded. My Nana's and the electric one that #Quil and #Jake had chipped in for as a birthday gift. That one I rarely played... I like the feel of the acoustic. But it was nice to have the option when I felt a little more rock than roll.

"It's a big decision." I chuckled. "Music to me is like books or vinyl to a collector. It has value.. and it doesn't take up all that much space." I shrugged. "I'm saying new is bad. I just think if you can fix what you have... then you should. And maybe... this is a big maybe…  I get attached to things." I laughed about the concert tees. She wasn't wrong. "Some of those shows were life-changing."

I stood up and mentioned for her to sit. "Want to learn something new today?" I grinned since my revelation wasn't actually  news to her. "Have a seat."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I pulled my hands out of my pocket and crossed them over my chest.

This wasn’t a revelation, however, to hear him say it. This was new. We never really connected in a way to share these types of conversations.

I knew Embry liked old things, most of us had our quirks. And not that I would tell him, I did covet his old bike. My baby was my life and joy. But there was more to him and his reason for holding on to things. Which I was seeing now.

“Learn what?” I took a step back giving him room to stand up off the seat.

Raising my eyebrow, I looked at him and then at the seat. “What…” I shook my head.

‘Have some faith will you.’ My wolf whispered from her sleeping spot. Making me taking in a deep slow breath.

“I’m going to regret this.” I muttered, but it wasn’t true. I never regretted. Well… not knowingly. Taking a seat I locked my eyes on him. “Now what?”

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned at her... she did have trouble with being in the moment. I knew her hesitation wasn't about trust... I never would have through her front door if she didn't trust me. "I promise you won't." I smiled and set the guitar across her  lap.

"This one is just right for you." I moved behind her and lifted her hand and set her against the body of the guitar and raised her other hand to the neck. moving her thumb to rest over the top of it. "See... rest right." I leaned in over her shoulder and whispered just for her. "And seriously hot too."

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My body was graceful as he made his way around and moved me as and where he wanted. I tried not to freeze at his touch, and like my wolf told me. I showed some faith.

‘See, you can listen… when you want to.’ She chuckled and made me roll my eyes. Then she was gone. Leaving me in the moment with Embry.

“Embry…” my voice was low, soft and a warning all mixed with together. But he didn’t push the line we had set in place.

My eyes dropped to my fingers, the way the instrument felt laying on my lap, and against my body. “Stop talking dirty to the guitar.” I muttered to him. But my heart wasn’t in it. I was lost my fingertips feeling the smooth wood.

•- Embry Call -•

I chuckled, she had to know I wouldn't really make a move here, right? I mean if I was hitting on a random girl... I shook my head at the thought. If I was hitting on a random girl I would not have brought her here... Not to a music store  and certainly to #MrsFranco’s she was practically my aunt.

“Never.” the word was a low grumble. “It's a thing of beauty.” I rest my hand on hers just for a second, to let her get a feel for what I was doing. Then I moved her fingers. “Don’t fingers rest against the stings. Just the fingertips. You don't need to use force just hold the strings easily. And you've just learned the C chord.” I smiled and nodded to her other hand for her to got heard and strum.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

My eyebrows pulled together. Focusing  on what he was trying to show me and understanding the reason for the way he moved me to touch and hold the guitar.

“It’s something.” I said, because it was a beautiful instrument. Biting the inside of my cheeks, I lighten the way my  fingers held the neck and then only the tips resting on the strings.

“This isn’t as easy as you make it out.” Watching him play, and not sing too. It was so natural, and easy. But then again, that was telling. The more something looks natural to another’s eye, the more  talented the musician is.

“Okay. C.” I knew how it should sound, but the cry that came from the stings was anything but.

“Spirits!”

•- Embry Call -•

I grinned. "It's not, but if you practice... it becomes like breathing." The sound of the can out of the guitar was not pretty... "Hey you did better than a lot of the did the first time." I chuckled. "You didn't break any strings. "I gave  her an approving smile. We all knew that Leah wasn't afraid of using force, a lot of the pups hadn't remembered their strength the first time.

I moved around to squat in front of her and put my hand on her wrist. I sighed and shook my  it between her thumb and forefinger. "Try this, it helps you be a little gentler." I showed her where to place her fingers again.

"Look at me this time, not the guitar." I set my eyes on hers. my fingers still on her wrist so she wouldn't tense up again,

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Rolling my eyes at him. “Since when do you feed me bull shit? That wasn’t better than anything.”

 It was a mess, but I knew that the only way to get better was time and effort. It was the only way I became good at boxing, riding… everything I was good at, came from hard work, dedication, and effort.

Dropping my head from side to side. My brown eyes were in the instrument in my hands. It felt wrong, I didn’t feel at ease with it. And then he was before me. His hands moving mine.

“It went into partnership with a Wisearse. That’s what it  did wrong.” But I did as he said. Not letting myself react to the way his fingers touched.

I was frowning when he set the pick in my fingers, showing me how to hold and use it. I wasn’t sure I would use it.

“Why the pick and not just—“ but he answered the question before  I could finish it. I dropped my wrist, held the pick as he showed. “Okay, like this.” And then I stopped looking at him. “How do I learn to play if I’m not watching. What I’m doing?”

But there was something, a light ease in my shoulders, his eyes drew me into him. The sensation of his hand resting on mine had to be pushed out of my head.

•- Embry Call -•

“Not bullshit.” I chuckled. “The day they started learning I had to teach them how to restring too” I laughed and waited for her.

“You learned to type by not watching what you’re doing right?” I replied smartly. “You learn the feel of the cutting me off before I could brag about what a amazing teacher I was.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

“Okay…” I hadn’t expected that to work. The feel was what I had been considering on when I wasn’t looking at the strings.

And he had a point, typing was about finger placement. Riding was about body placement. You had to give in to the movement before you could gain the courage to push yourself to lean into the skill.  The sound this time was better ( not great ), but I could feel the footsteps approaching before him. Straightening out I glanced over my shoulder.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt one of your Instruments.” Her eyes moved  from Embry to me, the kindness in her eyes spoke volumes.

‘Do not worry.’ She waved her hand. ‘We all have to start from somewhere.’

•- Embry Call -•

I laughed a little, she was expecting miracles. But I knew I had too when I first started the guitar. I had been playing piano from such a young age I had not memory of those early stages of learns… I had naively expected the skill to be  transferable. “I know you’re used to being good at everything you try.” I smiled that smile at her and looked up at Mrs Franco. “Music always makes you earn it. Is that right Lucille?” I gave the older woman a bright grin now.

‘Always.’

She gave me a nod when I repeated to her what she told everyone starting out. ‘Speaking of earning it. How is that little darling you were teaching doing?’ She put her hand on my shoulder and I fished out my home to find a video.

“Amazing, her mom found a teacher in Neah Bay… and she’s the YouTube generation so she’s been working hard at home. Your tip on teaching her a full song really paid off.” I played a video of #Bear in her room playing perfect by Ed Sheeran that she had sent me a few days ago.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

Parting my lips to deny what he said, but it would be a lie. Ma had always told me I needed to put less pressure on myself. And that working hard on something to be the best made the journey worth it, not the destination.

And then there is was. That smile of his. Why in the name of the spirits did it pull such a reaction from my stomach?

“Music always makes you earn it… I like that.” And I did, it was a Stark reminder that sometimes I missed the journey because I was always looking at where I wanted to be.

Setting the cherry wood down to the side, again I found myself watching the two. The ease it which #MrsFranco rested her hand on his shoulder, the away he reacted to her. Embry Call knew how to be in the moment.

I didn’t move, just the sound from the phone told me it was #Bear, she had gotten so good. The lessons were paying off.

•- Embry Call -•

I smiled at her. "We all have to pay our dues." #Lucille grinned at her. At the end of the video was #Bear's mom clapping and telling her she did good and then #Bear asking her to send the video the #Quil right before it cut off.

I smiled because I knew without even asking... Ms Young would send it to him. 'What a sweetheart... I'. glad to see that old guitar getting loved." she disappeared behind the counter and pulled out a thin stack of tab sheets. 'These all came in a  week ago... it's all new songs that are supposed to be perfect for beginners.'

I flipped through and smiled, recognising the titles of songs I knew #Claire liked.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

I stood up letting the two of them head towards the counter, it gave me time to look around around. Even if my eyes kept drifting back to the guitar.

I came to a stop before a piano, but it was smaller. Nothing like the one I saw #Edward, #Esme or #Ness playing. And it looked nothing like the one #MsC had too.

‘It’s a Piano forte.’ #MrsFranco calls out still smiling. ‘Take a seat and give it a try.’ She said setting down another Stack of papers. ‘Embry, these are some classical songs.’ She continued.

“It’s beautiful, but don’t play.”

I reminded her, but my fingers brushed the keys not pressing them down.

•- Embry Call -•

Seeing Leah sitting at a piano was one hell of a sight. There was a slight rush of heat when I thought of her sitting next to me on a piano bench as I played... I cleared my throat... it did something exciting to my stomach... I had to make that happen soon.

The next stack she handed me were compositions I knew I had or knew but heart. But I could never say no to #MrsFranco... Besides the community theatre on the Rez, the library or high school never refused donations. They  frequently gifted anything they had multiple copies of to students and members.

#Lucille raised her eyebrows at me before she shuffled off to sit next to Leah. 'Start here.' she placed her fingers over the keys and played a scale from C major her fingers walking over the seven keys slow and then back again. 'Now you try.' She smiled.

I smiled; I never would have even thought to start there... I don't even remember learning scales... I had been so young.

•- Leah Clearwater -•

The small woman smiled sweetly at me, looking with warm eyes as she nodded towards the keys she’d just shown me. I had followed long, not understanding that she’d want me to try. But I knew where her fingers had been placed.

“Me?” I asked, it was one thing to like listening to others playing. But to play it myself?

‘Yes you.’ #MrsFranco took my hand, making me freeze at her touch. She noticed the change and whispered. ‘It’s okay.’ She didn’t know why I reacted to being touched, but she was gentle enough to acknowledge what she was doing. ‘We will take it slow.’

She placed my fingers on the key and then pushed down. ‘Just like that.’  Moving my finger to the next key she let me follow the scale to it’s end. ‘See.’ She smiled sitting with a straight back on the bench. ‘You can play.’ Resetting my fingers to go again, so I did.

It felt like heave, like I was walking the world of the spirits.

Part Two - Continues...

[blazingtheway]

Brothers – Embry Solo

We heard the truck pulling up, and just the sound of the engine was enough to announce #Jacob's presence. #Quil hit pause on the DOA match I was whooping his arse in and tossed the controller on the couch. 'I just remembered that I have somewhere to be.'

"Hey!!! I was winning!" I scoffed, as the truck door opened outside.

'Were you though? If we look at the high scores, I think we could assume the match would have gone my way eventually.' He grinned and grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair. I flicked a beer cap at him as he disappeared out the door, he pulled it open like a shield and the beer cap bounced off of it and landed on the floor.

#Jake walked into the house and jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the door and the sounds of #Quil starting up my bike. Arsehole, I thought with a smirk. 'Was the rapid exit on my behalf?' He asked with a laughed and made his way to the fridge to help himself to a beer.

"It might have been for mine." I scoffed and shut off the X-box.

'Fifty/fifty??' #Jake suggested with a shrug.

I laughed and shook my head.

"Sixty/forty..."

Jake laughed. 'Fine.' He took a seat on the coffee table facing me and took a sip from the beer. 'I'm sorry, 'Bry... I should have told you what #Nessie and I were planning... I should have told you when it was just an idea... but...'

I shook my head holding up a hand to stop him. "I get it... I know that it can't be easy to think about leaving."

Jake ran his hand through his neatly cropped hair. 'It's not. But I can't keep Nessie here forever, she's restless and I --'

"You don't have to explain yourself, Jake. I shouldn't have said what I..." I stopped myself from finishing that sentence because; I wasn't sorry for what I had said. "I should have said all of this before it turned into this ugly thing that just flooded out when I lost my temper."

'I pissed you off... because you were avoiding me.' He wasn't wrong, I had avoided him because I knew what I was feeling was unfair. But I was feeling it all the same.

"I know... I should have spoken to you from day one."

'Why didn't you? It's not like you to bottle this kind of thing up.' #Jake was looking concerned now.

"Because I knew it was selfish... the most selfish, ridiculous thing that I have ever thought." I dragged my hand through my hair. "And the worst thing about it..." I sighed and looked him in the eye. "I meant it... I want to sit here and tell you that I didn't. That I was pissed off and I lashed out. That I'm sorry... and I am sorry I said it with the pups there, I was lashing out. But it was how I felt."

#Jacob nodded and listened to everything I had to say. 'And now?' He asked in that measured tone he learned from his father. 'Do you still feel like that?'

"No... Of course not. I was stupid and... cruel --" It was #Jake’s turn to cut me off.

'Don't go there, Embry.' He clamped a hand on my shoulder. 'My mom died a long time ago and it's different than what you are going through. You're still an arsehole... but I get it. Just... Don't start hiding things again bro'... It didn't work out too well for you the last time.'

He wasn't wrong. We both knew that. We talked until we were both on our third beer. Then #Jake asked the inevitable question. 'So, you came to me and asked me to lift the gag ordered that you forcedme to put on you. I assume that means that you wanted to tell someone... Did you?' He raised a brow.

"Yep!" I nodded and took a long swig from the bottle. “I told Leah.” #Jake nearly choked on his beer.

‘Wow…’ He wiped his chin on his sleeve. ‘That can’t have gone well.’

I shook my head and laughed… “It did not… but she accepted it. After she tore me a new one. Verbally.” I added the last part at a quirk of his brow.

‘Why?’ he shrugged, and I knew he meant why had I told Leah.

“Because she went out on a limb for me… and mom… and –“ I sighed and shook my head. There were several reasons I could tell him and several I couldn’t, some that I didn’t want to, because they were just mine and hers to know. It wasn’t like keeping my drug dealing a secret. This didn’t eat me up inside. But there were reasons that #Jake needed to hear too; so, I told him those. “And we can’t have secrets… Not when you’re gone. Because we need to keep the pack together… and we can’t do that if there are walls between us.”

‘Yeah…’ His hand tightened on the bottle, and he watched the condensation steam off the glass with the heat of his touch. ‘I know. But do you really think you can get Leah Clearwater to let her walls down?’

I laughed at that… he had no idea.

“No…” I smiled. “No, I don’t. I think Leah Clearwater will do that all by herself. If we let her. She’ll do it… but there are several things she needs to hear from you before that’s going to be possible.”

#Jake looked at me confused. I wasn’t breaking any confidence; I wouldn’t tell him what Leah told me.

“Jacob… You’ve been my brother for as long as I can remember. I know you. You aren’t just going away. Not for a few weeks or a few months or even years. You’re stepping down and chasing your happily ever after. You deserve it. You pulled this pack through the biggest threat we’ve ever had. You held us all together; you gave us everything we need to survive.” I paused for a long moment while he thought about it. “You chose Leah as Beta. And not because #Seth was a kid, not because there was no other choice. You know what happens next.”

He just nodded and changed the subject, I let him because I knew he’d heard me. ‘Being on stage…’ he turned back to me with a grin. ‘What was that like?’

“Fucking terrifying...” I admitted easily and smiled despite the words. “I hated it… and it was amazing.”

‘Something you’d do again?’ He quirked a brow. He didn’t question the oxymoron in that statement… it was a testament to how well he knew me.

I shook my head, he knew about the video that was posted. “Maybe… one day.” He knew what I meant. If my time ever came to step down from the pack, if I ever decided to live out my human life… but that time wasn’t now. It wasn’t even soon… and I was okay with that. I knew that someday that feeling would come back… the want to live out my human life, grow old. Being a Spirit Warrior wasn’t about living forever… even though in theory we could. The desire for immortality was for Cold Ones… not us. We protected humans because we knew what it was to be human. I knew it would be clear someday that it was my time. But it wasn’t even on the horizon yet.

‘I hope so…’ #Jake grinned. ‘You looked at home up there.’ He laughed when my heart stuttered. But he had no idea why. ‘Even if it does scare the shit out of you.’ He laughed harder and sat forward to grab a controller and power on the Xbox.

Home… I smiled to myself and remembered the way Leah’s heart sounded she had fallen asleep on my shoulder. “Me too…” I smiled. “When the time comes.”

[blazingtheway]

A Mother Always Knows - Leah Solo

» ᴀ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ

╚ ꜱᴏʟᴏ

❝ A mother is not a person to lean on, but she is a person who makes leaning unnecessary. ❞ ~Dorothy Canfield Fisher

“Aren’t you meant to cut those back, or are you planning on just staring at them all day?” Sat on my bike I was looking up towards the tree beside Ma’s house. The Kid was half hanging off the ladder making it seem as if he knew what in the name of the spirits he was doing. And yet because I knew him so well, I could see those tell tail signs. The crinkle at the bridge of his nose, the light touch of red on his almond cheeks, and the tips of his ears were red too.

‘I don’t see you up here helping.’ He huffed pointing to a trimmer on the ground. ‘Could you pass that one up to me? this one isn’t really doing the trick.’

I swung my leg over my baby and then pushed myself up to stand. Bending forwards, I gathered my hair up together and twisted it into a messy bun over the top of my head. “I guess I could help a little.”

His eyes brightened, then he started to grin from ear to ear. “Less of that, or I’ll pull the ladder out from under your arse and leave you hanging there.” But it didn’t stop him from grinning like the Cheshire cat.

I shuffled out of my jacket, setting it down over the seat I’d just vacated and rolled up the sleeves of my button down. It was a cool day, with rain threatening to fall, for normal people you would have been able to see them wrapping up warmer, taking their hats and gloves out again. However, for the kid and I, the day was perfect. ( Not that we even felt the cold, but if the sun came out sometimes it was nice to go and push one another off the side of the cliffs. Today wasn’t one of those days. )

Picking the trimmer up I walked over to the tree and stood under him, holding the thing up for him to take. ‘So, what brings you over to Ma’s today? Didn’t you say you were taking the day to head out of town?’ #Seth asked as we swapped trimmers and he got back to work.

“Yeah, that was the plan.” I didn’t take many days to myself. And I definitely didn’t like taking time away from the bar. There was a fine balance to running a family business, and it meant that work always came before Me time. However, on the odd occasions where I could get away, my family knew it meant that I’d climb onto my baby and set out on the road. A long ride, and then a hike, maybe even taking a book and reading in the middle of nowhere until the sun set on me. And then it was time to wait for Grandmother Moon before heading home.

‘It’s unlike you to change your plans, with the bar fully staffed you best get used to having more time for yourself.’ He was teasing, as well as making a point too. ‘You can’t keep putting everything and everyone before your own needs.’ He handed me down a branch from the tree. ‘Live a little sis.’ But I could tell, as he was saying the words, he knew it wasn’t how I worked. If it wasn’t the bar, it was the pack, if not the pack, it was something or someone who needed a helping hand.

“Just…” There was nothing for me to say, because he was right. But then again, my family was used to not getting much information out of me. “Something told me that I was needed here at Ma’s.”

The Kid gave me a look, which told me a story I wasn’t going to like, but he also knew better than to say the words. I could read him, understand his eyes, the way his body language spoke louder than anything he could say with his voice.

‘Well, the spirits clearly knew I needed some supervision here.’ Handing me down another branch to take out of the way. As I turned to face the house, I saw that he had started to build up a pile of branches on the driveway. It looked like he was setting them up for burning later.

‘Usdi!’ Ma called out from the porch, waving her free hand in the air.

‘Unigisv svhiyeyiditlv, Ma.’ ( Good afternoon, Mom ), dusting off my hands I waiting as she came to join us.

‘I thought I hear your baby coming up the road.’ Raising my eyebrow, I rolled my tongue over my teeth.

“Sure, you did, nothing gets past for Clearwater ears.” She held her hand out and I bent my head for her to kiss my forehead.

‘Don’t be so cheeky with your Ma, you only have one.’ Biting my tongue, because I could have told her that she too only has one daughter, so the cheekiness wasn’t going anywhere. But I let it slide. Because to make it clear… I wasn’t cheeky… I was sarcastic. And there was a difference.

‘Here.’ She handed me a drink and then walked over to hand one over to Seth who had climbed down from the ladder now. The Kid asked how much of the tree she would like trimmed back and then we both got right back to work.

‘Are you both still okay with the car wash?’ She asked. ‘I’m going to go see Tiff later, and the two of us are going to work on the final plans.’ She spoke watching us.

‘We told you Ma, just tell us when you want it to happen and we are ready. We have the supplies in for it already, sis placed the order a couple of weeks ago.’

“Except the food.” I reminded the both of them. “That we will have to get in on the day, or the night before. But it’s not hard at all. I was speaking to Alex too. And if it’s in the day he said he would drive his taco truck down here to help.” Ma clapped her hands.

‘That’s a brilliant idea, I didn’t think that anyone else would be willing to help.’ She smiled.

#Seth coughed. ‘You aren’t Leah. They see her and forget how to think straight.’ I wacked him on the arse with a branch. ‘What? You know it’s true!’ he said rubbing his arse.

“Alex isn’t like that; he is one of the good guys.” I told them.

‘Speaking of good guys…’ Ma started to help by sweeping around us. ‘I went to see your Da yesterday.’ I stilled waiting for that gash in my chest, but it didn’t split open as hard now. It was a skip of my heart, one which I knew that the kid heard. But he didn’t comment on it. ‘And Embry was up there. I felt so bad, I was sure I was interrupting them. However, he assured me that they were done….’

On any other day, I wouldn’t have thought twice about hearing this. One of the wolves going to see Da wasn’t something we would bat an eye at. But now? Today as I stood here, as I locked down myself when I felt the memories of his kiss. I had to wonder… What had Embry Call been talking to my Da about? I shook myself free from those thoughts from my mind. Telling myself it was none of my business. And it really was none of my business.

‘… Anyway. So, that’s why I believe we should think about doing it sooner rather than later, don’t you agree Usdi?’ When I glanced down at my Ma, she was staring at me. ‘Are you okay?’ Somehow, she had seen something that I had been hiding. Somehow, I wasn’t sure how… But a mother always knows.

My eyebrows pulled together, and I waved my hand before my face. “I’m fine, just thinking of a few things.” By stopping where I had, I knew Ma would assume those things were about the Charity Car Wash at #HwH

(Music: Better Place · Rachel Platten )

[blazingtheway]

The Wolf and the Raven – Embry Solo

'My boy!' My Mom had almost squealed the morning after the open mic night and she planted two kisses on my cheeks, which I had to bend almost in half for. 'I haven’t heard you sing since your Nana was alive.' I'd just laughed and shook my head... but it was the happiest I had seen her in so long. #Sue had brought non-alcoholic champagne and the two of them watched the show until mom was too tired. She was never a big drinker; she was a glass of wine at celebrations type of woman. But I knew sitting with her best friend and pretending just for one night... It meant a lot to her.

But now, I walked up the last of the hill the small graveyard sat on, I never quite liked riding my bike all the way... my old lady was loud, and it always felt a little disrespectful. Even though I knew the Spirits of the dead didn't reside here, the ancestors walked the lands, with the ancestors that came before and the Great Wolf. But it was a small sign of respect I supposed... probably more for the people visiting loved ones, than for the souls of those who passed on.

I took a seat and crossed my legs in front of me. "I honestly have no idea why I'm here." I said with a laugh. The flowers sitting tidily in front of the headstones looked like they'd been placed there yesterday. "Normally..." I cleared my throat. "I'd go talk to my grandfather about this... but he's all the way in Neah Bay and I don't want to be that far away from Mom."

I reached for the inside pocket of my leather jacket and pulled out the flask. "I know you were always more of a lager man... but I'm expecting a major karmic kick in the arse, so I brought something a little stronger." I poured out one for Harry and took a swig myself. I laughed at the absurdity of what I was about to say.

"I kissed your daughter, Mr Clearwater." Saying it out loud was insane. I could almost hear #Harry laughing and wondering how I'd survived the attempt, never mind her kissing me back. My heart gave one of those out of time thumps, seeing her in her doorway, clearly in pain… and then… "I got a box to the jaw for it... But then..." I wasn't going to tell him the details. "The really, really strange thing is... I slept with her... like actually sleeping... not... um…" I cleared my throat and poured out another drink for #Harry and took one for me. Had I really just said that to her Dad? "She um..." I shook my head, my heart still skipped at the memory. "Put her head on my shoulder... and I could hear her heartbeat start to slow." I paused and remembered the sound, blowing out a long breath. "It was the best thing I ever heard... better than any song... any instrument. I'm not even sure why I'm telling you this... I think it's... What's really playing in my head over and over again; is.... that... I want to see her again... I mean obviously, I will she's my... our beta." I stopped again... was I just here to think out loud? "I mean I want to follow this new path with her... and I know, I mean I have no doubts that it’s right for me... But Leah. Leah is so much more... she's meant for so much more and..." I heaved another breath and swigged from the flask again.

I knew what I wanted to ask... but voicing it was hard, because what if hearing myself say the words gave me an answer I didn't want to hear. "Oh sorry... Always pour for your elders first, right?" I chuckled and did so.

"I don't want to pull her off a path she's meant for... What if I disrupt her fate...?” There was a loud rustling from the nearby tree line and a raven sat perched there. Just watching me. "Hello, Granddad." I smiled, remembering the moment my grandfather's coffin was lowered, in a cemetery not unlike this and perched in a nearby tree… a raven. A sign of the Spirit’s to the Makah just as the wolf was to the Quileute. The Raven swooped down and landed on Harry's headstone for a second and flew off towards the sun.

Leah was a daughter of the sun; that much had always been clear. "Okay... I can take a hint."

'I hope I'm not interrupting you three.' #Sue's voice came from a few yards away and I screwed on the cap and stuffed the flask into my jacket like a teenager caught misbehaving. #Sue tilted her head as I stood and laughed softly. 'I think we are long past that pretence Embry.' She teased. 'You're all grown up now. What brings you here today?'

"I… um… needed a Dad today. I guess." I smiled, glancing back at Harry’s name carved in stone. "Your kids were always generous enough to share theirs." #Sue smiled and shifted the fresh cut flowers in her arms.

'You are always welcome to any wisdom my silly, wise man could offer you. We all need a father at times... it doesn’t matter whose.'

"I'll leave you both alone." I patted down my jeans from sitting on the ground.

'Don't rush off on my behalf.' #Sue insisted. I kissed her on the cheek and smiled. "I got everything I need." And I had, as I walked away, I heard a rustle, and the raven was back in the same tree.

#Sue kneeled by her husband’s grave and began arranging flowers, pointedly ignoring the smell of whiskey. As I walked away, I heard #Sue whisper. 'Hello, Patrick. I'll send your best to your daughter.' Then... soundlessly, the bird was gone.

I shook my head and made my way back to my bike… Clearly, all the Clearwater women were touched by the Spirit’s.

[blazingtheway]

Tonight’s the night – All bets must be paid! – Storyline 9 – Together - Part Three

Continuing on from...

↬ Embry Call ↫

I chuckled softly my hand running down her arm and over the back of hers. My finger skimmed hers and I turned her hand over in mine. Tracing the lines of her palm. “I don't think trying to follow a few rules counts as changing who I am. And I'm only promising to try my very best... You’ll still need to keep my arse in line... That will never change.”

My attention moved back to her eyes when she spoke about being a private person. I knew that she was. “I know, and I understand this can all stay between us. Not because I don't want people to know. Just...” How did I say without putting my big foot in my mouth? “It feels like something that's ours. Something to protect.”

I nodded to her next rule, the pack was a priority too. “Definitely, and work.” my job wasn't exactly protecting the pure and innocent. But hers was a huge family investment.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I allowed my eyes to flicker and take in the way he was examining me, the way his fingers glided over my skin, the way he turned my hand and traced the lines. Did he know what his touches were doing inside of me? That it caused me to burn, growing and crawling its way up the sides of my neck, making my nerve endings come to life in a way they hadn’t before.

I couldn’t understand how it was ever possible. This wasn’t the first time Embry had touched me. But the intent behind these touches weren’t the same as before. Before me catching him looking at me in this manor would have resulted in an arse kicking.

“That’s something else we can agree on. I’ll always be happy to kick your arse to the ground, with a smirk if you ask nicely.”

I was nodding once again, curling my fingers as his slipped into them.

“Hmm… you mean like a bubble? Something that can protect this… whatever it is?” Nodding once again as I spoke. “That’s what my home is for me. Somewhere To be me, and to keep the world out. Even if lately, it feels like there is a revolving door instead of a front door.” Muttering the last part.

“Yes! Work… no matter what… we don’t mess with what is needed… we both have responsibilities; we can’t miss work. I’m onboard with that.” Family, pack, and work were my three top priorities.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I smiled. "Yeah... exactly. We don't need anyone else's opinion on it until we know more about where it's all heading. And if me showing up here all the time gets too much you can tell me... I'll get it... I won't turn clingy or dysfunctional on you." I was sure she knew that already.

My hand lifted from hers and brushed her hair back behind her ear, then trailed along her jaw and I thought about what I had said for a moment.

"So how about, when we do see each other... Instead of saying goodbye, we say see you soon, that way if we need space or time, its easy to say... and we know that unless we say goodbye... we're still in this."

I knew words weren't her thing... and for me when it came to talking about how I felt wasn't a problem... but all of this was new, and I wasn't great with the right words either. But with this little code, we could make sure both of us could say what we needed without fear of misspeaking.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“I’m never good with other’s opinions, and it’s why they know better than to give them to me. But if we faced facts…”

My eyes dropped to our hands again as I spoke, and then they lifted to meet his. Stilling as he brought his fingers to push strands of my hair behind my ear.

“They will have something to say.” The pack, the imprints, the tribe, they would all have something to add. Good, bad, or ugly.

My mouth worked, and then my lips dropped open. Tilting my head into his touch, as my mind worked over his next rule. And that was ingenious. “So, we only say See You Soon, and if this all gets too much… then Goodbye is our code to say how we feel?”

I was nodding my head; this was slowly making sense and that was shocking. “I like that. And I can agree to it.”

He was truly working to build a foundation here. Giving me the rules, I needed to hold onto.

“Okay, here’s one more we need too. If we are going to keep this to ourselves… No PDA where we can be seen.” Rubbing my hands over my thighs. “And definitely not on the Rez. Or around the pups or anyone from the pack.”

I didn’t do well with being touched as it was, he’d felt the brunt of that in the night a few times.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"No one else's opinion matters, only mine and yours. But you are right... Everyone would have something to say, and I only care about what you want to say. "That works." and then I smiled a little teasingly... "Or a promise for the next time we're alone together.

My fingers stilled on her cheek when she said the next rule. Of course, I realised this wasn't public... but still. I was overdoing it, I thought about the few minutes of our conversation... I had been touching her the entire time, tracing lines on her skin like I draw a map of her inner workings. "Good idea." I chuckled softly. "I definitely might need to work on that one." I dropped my hand and chewed on my lip... but face heating. "Sorry... curiosity got the better of me, you're just much more beautiful than I ever let myself see before. Your eyes are incredible." I whispered. "And your skin is so soft... flawless... but then I think of the sheer strength that is just beneath it." I let out a breath... "It's breath taking... Your breath taking."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

This time I was the one reaching out. My hand placed in over his mouth. It wasn’t that I didn’t know about my beauty, it was a gift from my gene pool as well as the spirits for the pack. We all turned heads, and we weren’t shy about it. ( Well, maybe #Quil and #Collin a little. ) The guys made the most of it, and I wasn’t one to back down or underplay my looks.

But hearing him say it, here and now, it made my stomach come to life with something that never lived in there before. My mouth drying up, at hearing him with the burning in my veins moving up the side of my neck didn’t help.

“Could you stop that. You are saying so many things, flirting, you knew once would earn you a smack down.” He understood what he was doing, but then I hadn’t stopped him.

“I promised not to hit you, but you don’t have to push me to it.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

There was a sudden and unusual urge to kiss her fingers when she placed them over my mouth. But I figured it was one I should resist... this time. That kind of affection had never appealed to me before... But a whole lot of firsts had happened here tonight, and I had rolled with all of them until now.

I laughed though, she thought I was flirting... and now that I stopped to think about it... I hadn't. Nothing I had done tonight had been flirting... flirting had an intent, a goal.

When I kissed her, I didn't have winning her as some prize on my mind, just a burning unanswered question. When I touch her, it wasn't motivated by anything like goals in mind, I wasn't trying to get her into bed, or even trying to get her to kiss me again. I just wanted to feel the heat of her skin, learn the strength she had there.

Even the places I had touched her. Her hands, her arms, her face. Not exactly the parts of the female anatomy I normally favoured. I smiled, "You thought I was flirting?" My eyes met hers. "That wasn't..." I paused. "This will probably earn me a slap... but that..." And now the right words failed me? Perfect!

"That was all for me. I have so many questions in my head right now that can't be asked or answered out loud. I know that you have all the answers... I was just searching... and thinking out loud."

I tilted my head and smirked. "But those were some epic lines... I should write them down."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I dropped my hand when he started to look at me in that way. Like there was more to the story and I was in the dark. That was a feeling that I wasn’t going to get used to. The not knowing was what was causing me to think about running. But the fact that the spirits were keeping me grounded meant that I stayed to find the answers.

Biting the inside of my cheeks, I shook my head. “You think I have the answers? Really?” Spirits maybe my composure was holding stronger than I first thought.

But I had to press my lips together, and then sit on my hands. Reminding myself I had given my word.

“For you? Telling me that I’m beautiful is for you? Telling me that my eyes are incredible, and my skin is flawless… was for you?”

Tilting my head to the other side. Because he was doing something, maybe flirting was the wrong word. “Do you forget that I’ve watched you play the bar for years?” His words were his tools.

Rolling my eyes at him when he spoke about his one liners. “Sure, write a book. Help others do better when they are doing this thing.”

Shaking my head. “Shall we get back on track here? We were working on the rules.” This time I pushed up to stand. Sitting still next to him wasn’t helping the sensations in my stomach.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I smiled again. "I don't think that you 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 the answers... Just that they are in there and I'll find them if I look in the right places."

I sounded like a fortune cookie... but also knew that to be true. I tilted my head to the side, my eyes following her.

"Exactly! You've seen me in action... and have you heard me tell a woman she was beautiful... or breath taking? Or even notice her eyes never mind commenting on them?"

I laughed again. "You need more rules? I think we've covered all the important things, haven't we?" I knew she thrived with rules and order... mostly all self-imposed because this woman did not bend to the will of others, she was far too strong and independent for that.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“That’s what you’ve been doing all this time when you look at me like… well… like you’re looking for a way in?”

Crossing my arms over my chest, and my eyebrows pulled together. It would make sense. All those times I’d caught his eyes on me, he was searching for something.

Holding my index finger in the air, my words locked up on my lips. I was going to say I had, but as I went through the memories of him chatting girls up, their eyes, or their beauty weren’t his go to. And as I thought about it.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t like touching a woman’s hair? That it was too personal for you?”

The question out before the thought was finished. He’d not stopped touching my hair tonight. More thoughts causing me to rub my temple where he had been placing kisses tonight too. Something else I was sure neither of us did.

“I don’t know, rules are there to cover the base, to help us/ you... not get your arse kicked. Things like…” I glanced around the living room, at him and then out towards the door.

“You walked here last night didn’t you? What if you drive or ride here, or I do to yours? Wouldn’t people see and wonder why?”

Rules made sure the world knew where they stood. They were a good thing to set.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I nodded and was suddenly wary that maybe I shouldn't be doing that... "Um... yeah, I guess. Normally you are pretty hard to read. But you normally say what you mean and do whatever you say you're going to...But lately..." I shrugged not really sure where to take this. "There's just... more... like the layers are peeling back.

I laughed softly... she was right, I had told her that. It was something I avoided. "Yeah... Girls think its affectionate, and then they start that 'I never met anyone like you talk and that makes the getting up and leaving a lot more awkward."

I wanted to close the distance between us already... Spirits! I wanted to kiss her again... it felt like far too long had passed since I kissed her. I nodded when she asked if I walked. "I didn't want to wake the pups up... but you have a point. And it's not a very long walk. And you know people would talk..." I stopped myself from saying about my jeep parked outside her house overnight. That was seriously jumping the gun. "What are we up to now... six?"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I was hard to read because I liked it that way. The only people who saw into the first layer were Ma and Seth, and then there was Ms C. Call’s Mom had broken her way into that level years ago, and she refused to leave. And now her son was the first in years to have somehow managed to do the same.

Biting on the inside of my cheeks, I let those thoughts settle for a moment before listening to him ramble about the girls he took home.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about those talks here… I’ve seen plenty of guys like you. I’m kind of surrounded by them on a daily basis.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth. Nobody in the pack had done what Embry Call had. He’d looked when others didn’t. And for some reason that made my stomach do that twisting thing again.

“You and I both know too well how much this tribe likes to talk.” Raising my eyebrow, I shook my head.

Not wanting to bring up his last scandal with the so-called married woman. Seth and I hadn’t paid it any attention. Spirits I hadn’t even brought it up. Because it was none of anyone’s business. And he knew all about what was said about me.

“Hmm… Yeah… We are sitting on six right now.” Was that too much? Or was it not enough?

↬ Embry Call ↫

I wanted to tell her that this wasn't like any of that. This wasn't like anything I had ever done or felt before.

"I'm not worried, Leah..." and the feeling of saying that out loud made me smile because it brought on the next thought that I voiced. "But I'm not leaving either..." I bite my lip and laugh because it was insane! And I liked it. "I mean I will have to at some stage... But I'm really hoping this list of rules means you want me to come back." What other purpose would they serve? Right?

We had both been on the wrong end of rumours and small-town mentality before... it was just that more often than not mine were mostly true... just with a few embellishments.

"Okay then... so... we are both new to this whole thing, right? What about... No walking away from each other in a disagreement? Neither of us is great with unresolved conflict... I mean look at what happened tonight because I didn't step up and tell Jake how I felt." I added. I was sensing that she needed something more... and that she might feel strange setting more.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Why was it so obvious now that he was trying to give me what I needed? When I took the time to take him in, I could now see and notice those small bites to his lips, the way his eyes lit up or grew a little dull depending on what he was saying. And Spirits those smiles of his, why did they have a calm wash over me?

There were those small movements and the way he took his time to consider what was being said. This wasn’t the Embry Call I knew before.

The spirits story came to mind, when they told me about his journey and how I was to help by letting him spread his wings. This was Embry Call now spreading his wings? And the Spirits couldn’t have given me a heads up about this? About how we would be here today?

“Hmm?” What did he say about not being worried? “Do I need to reintroduce you to myself? I mean…” I pointed behind me to the spot where I knocked his arse to the ground. “You’re not leaving and you’re not worried?”

Shifting on my feet, I stepped forward to sit back down but stopped at his next question. Did I want him to come back. “Like you haven’t been yo-yoing your way back to my door as it is.”

Taking a seat now, I rubbed my hands over my thighs. “No leaving on a fight?” Didn’t that mean… “So, you’re planning on fighting and sticking around for the aftermath too?” Spirits that was a good rule. One you should have no matter what.

“I can agree on that… that’s rule seven…. And I have one.” The thought a oh fighting brought it to mind.

“If one of us sees the other knocked on their arse with the pack…. We will have faith that we can deal with it. Pack first. Keep your head in the right place. So, we will always reach a hand out, to pick the other up. But have the faith to know we can handle ourselves when it matters.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

She was looking at me now like she was looking for a way in. and I tried to think like when there was nothing in my head, I needed to hide... the way I had been able to after Jake helped me lock away those pieces of my life. Like I had before I strayed off of the Spirit's path.

"I'm not saying I'm totally naive here. I know I should be worried but... I just..._ I shrugged. "I'm just not." I knew what I was feeling but I was fairly certain saying so would have her shoving me out the door.

I was excited, there was electricity in the air, I was hopeful. I was on the right path... I just knew it. "I spent a year doing that with Mom because I couldn't tell her the truth... I resented lying all the time. So, I would just leave. I don't want to do that again..." I chewed on my lip. "With anyone."

Her next words made me beam... I flashed back to the cliffs and Leah taking my hand. I stepped closer to her now. "Now that one... I like." I held my hand out to her. "So... Is eight the magic number?"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Something hard hit me in my chest. The air was still a smooth breeze in the space around me, so I knew it wasn’t the spirits.

I knew when I felt it, but to acknowledge it wasn’t easy for me. My eyes drifted to the wall for a moment as the memory of Ms. C came rushing in. Of overhearing the conversations with Ma. And the pain she had gone through. And then on the other hand, hearing or seeing those fights from Embry’s point of view too.

“I always respected you for taking that stand. For wanting to protect your mom from knowing.” This wasn’t a lie, I saw the look in Ma’s eyes. When she didn’t know if she was going to see her kids ever again. Knowing what was out there to hurt people. And how different it could have been, if I could protect her from it all.

My eyes were back on him up on hearing the excitement in his voice. I raised my eyebrow at the outstretched hand. A memory from the cliff playing now.

“Eight is always the magic number for our People.” For so many reasons. My eyes were on his, the hand still there between us. My heart did that stop and start thing again and my face burnt.

Rubbing my hand on my thigh, before I stood up and finally lifted it and placed it on his. “Eight is the number.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I could tell she was deep in thought too. "Sometimes I wonder if what I did was worse... the not knowing... the imagined evils that I could have harmed me... Not knowing how strong I was." I shook my head. "But regrets ground us in the past. We're supposed to change direction does not turn back." That was something Harry had told me... Spirit's... how many years ago?

"Eight it is." I smiled and closed my hand around hers. "Still warm." I muttered ridiculously... but it was baffling to me.

My eye's moved from our hands and to her captivating rich, brown gaze. My heart stumbled a few beats. I lightly squeezed her hand and my tongue swept over my lips. "Can I kiss you again?" I asked... not ashamed to let a hint of pleading into my voice because I needed to... how was it even possible? It really only had been minutes, but I craved her lips like the air after being underwater too long.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.’

Why did those words sound so familiar to me? I knew I’d heard them… and then I remembered who used to say them.

I swallowed hard, waiting for the walls to shoot up and lock the world, everything, and everyone out. I waited for that gut wrenching numbness that had me running, but nothing came. Sadness sure, guilt... yeah. But I wasn’t running.

“That’s good… advice.” I told him with my voice lower.

He still had a hold of my hand, and his heart did that thing where it missed a beat or two, then again mine had done it too.

But that question of his. Something made my body from my head to my toes feel a bolt of heat, with a spark hitting me all over, all at once.

“Hmm…” his eyes were already locking me in place, and then all I could see were his lips. Recalling how they felt on mine. “Y—yes…” The word so soft that no one else could hear it.

↬ Embry Call ↫

“I always thought so.” I said quietly when she seemed to remember who it was that always gave that advice to us all.

Her heart skipped a beat making me smile with a short breathy chuckle. “I can hear that, you know?” I leaned in slowly and my hand moved to her waist and this time I pull her towards me as I stepped in closer. I leaned in the tip of my nose brushed against hers. I closed my eyes, kissing the corner of her mouth softly then the other, a breathy sigh rumbled in my throat. Then my lips were on hers, my heart raced, and my stomach leapt. My lips moved to part hers and my arm snaked around her waist closing the last sliver of space between the two of us. I burned blissfully in all the places my body was in contact with hers. I was kissing Leah Clearwater… and spirits! She was kissing me back… I let go of her hand and raised mine to her cheek. Her skin was soft and smooth under my calloused fingertips. My lips moved on her, and low, longing sounds made their way up my throat.

The fire in my stomach urged me to deepen the kiss. My tongue found hers, and the taste on her almost had my self-control flying out the window. I slid my hand into her hair and tensed the muscles in the arm that was wrapped around her strong lean body, holding her tighter.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Words were never my strong suit, so now when I found myself stood before him. Only inches from his body there was nothing I had to say. It was all lost to feelings that hadn’t made themselves known before.

My feet took me forward to close the space between us, and he was still holding on to my hand. The way he curved his arm around my waist, had me tense before relaxing. The reminder that I had been the one to say… 𝘠𝘦𝘴.

My eyes met his and I knew, of course I knew he could hear the betrayal of my heart. Just as I had witnessed his do the same. But I didn’t push him away. Instead, I couldn’t stop myself from taking him in.

The way his eyes closed, his warm arm radiating heat back towards me. No comments about how hot we both were. Because in this place now, with the two of us. It was the same level of heat, only that it was growing with every passing moment.

When he let my hand go, it slipped up to rest on his chest. I was not just listening, but also feeling the rhythm of his beats. Every touch, the feel of his breath, the scent of him surrounding me. It was something I didn’t see coming.

My lips fell open and I took a moment to still and clear my mind that was spiralling. Each soft kiss built even more anticipation that sent electricity shuttering through me. And he hadn’t even placed his lips over mine.

“Embry…”

I whispered his name, not even audible to anyone but us just before he finally kissed me. And in that moment, the moment he pulled me into himself and parted my lips, the moment I tasted him again. I knew. I knew by the name of the Spirits…

I wanted to find out what this was. What it was that pulled me to him now, after all these years of knowing him. What it was that I was feeling in the depths of my spirit and soul when I kissed him back.

↬ Embry Call ↫

The way she whispered my name did so many things to me. Heat spread out across my chest from where she rested her hand over my heart. Not the heat that I was used to, this was new. She moved her lips against mine. I leaned into her even more, tilting her face up towards mine.

I poured everything I was feeling into the kiss, letting the fires blaze to life inside of me. I tasted her on my tongue and my finger twisted into the back of her shirt.

My heart pounded against her hand. I knew that she could here mine and feel it too.

There was a new pull from the centre of my chest that was tugging me closer to her. But it was impossible to be any closer together.

“Spirits!” I muttered into the kiss. My lips were back on hers instantly. “What are you doing to me?” I whisper and draw my fingers through her hair.

I flattened my hand on her back, freeing her shirt. I planted small individual kisses on her lips. She had to be feeling all of this too.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

How could something like a simple kiss have a person filled with so many sensations all at once?

The way his hands felt on my cheek had a line of fire spreading, the touch of his lips and the taste of his tongue with a mix of whiskey had my awareness heightened. The sound of his heart…. Spirits… was it speaking to mine because it felt like the two were deep in conversation.

My eyes flickered open, and my lips had started to throb a pulse softly. Aware that his lips were missing as he spoke. I closed them again welcoming those small kisses. With shock. How was I not giving him a hard time about it?

“Me?” Spirits… “What are 𝘠𝘰𝘶 doing to me Embry Call?” My breathing was ragged as I caught some air. Now looking at him. That urge to kiss him again right there tugging at me. So, I did.

My hands moved up to cup his face this time. Taking a hold lightly as I flicked the tip of my tongue over his mouth asking to be let in. There was an unexpected need to taste him and kiss him again and I didn’t wish to control this desire right now.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I was about to say 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧? But then her hand was on my cheeks, and all thoughts flew out of my head. All I could see was her lips, and when they touched mine, I sighed heavily onto her lips.

My whole body became charged and my hand on her cheek dropped and wrapped around her too. It slipped up her back along her spine stopping between her shoulder blades. I leaned into the kiss so deeply that we staggered back a step or two. And what could only be a moan passed over my lips.

I held her tightly to me, hearing only our hearts and her breathing. The cool breeze coming in through the window heightened my awareness of how warm she was.

I could stay like this with her until hunger drove us to come up for air. I broke away from her lips and trailed along her jaw towards her ear. Leaving slow, deep kisses on her flawless, almond toned skin.

My tongue flicked her ear lobe and I moved kisses down along the curve of her throat.

“This still feels like some kind of dream.” I muttered. My fingers twisted into the back of her shirt, proving that she was real, and this was still happening. “Still real.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

We stumbled like teenagers trying to understand how to be together when they locked into their first embrace, but for us it was different. It was the want and the need to come closer, to kiss deeper, to feel more. But there wasn’t space left for the air to even pass between our bodies, that had come together and clicked into place.

My tongue entwined and played with his. The taste of his only feeding the desires neither had thought of sharing. Or at least I hadn’t, and I was sure nor had he. Or had this been something he did see coming?

The thoughts in my head jumped from place to place, never settling long enough for me to come to a conclusion.

My fingers slipped up into his hair, combing it back and then gently curling strands into my fingers. I hadn’t done this before, touching hair, it was too personal. And I knew once I had what I wanted, I was out of there… This however wasn’t the same, this had none of the making of every rule I lived by when it came to men.

My heart stopped and my eyes opened in shock from the sound I heard him making. Embry Call just moaned? Into my lips, into our kiss. And I was witnessing it first hand?

Spirits… what were we doing to one another?

The sensation from the cool air washed over the heat we were radiating, and I smiled. An actual smile crossed my lips. Because the heat of him and me, combined with the cool La Push air, it was heady.

“Still real…” I don’t know if it was agreement or understanding. “Not… a dream…” my breathy voice rasped out as my head fell back and I closed my eyes, letting my mind follow the path his lips were carving out.

“Spirits.” My fingers tugged at his hair when his lips passed that perfect spot on the soft skin of my neck. Letting out a sigh of pleasure. My core was pulsing and throbbing as I tried to control what affects he had on my body.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I felt that smile on her lips as we kissed, but then her fingers were in my hair. It shocked me how amazing it felt.

The heat between us grew and my kisses grew hungrier as I moved lower! My nose pushing the neckline of her shirt aside to plant heavy kisses along the curve of her shoulder. Her scent changed and my fist tightened in her shirt and a jagged sound rushed up from somewhere deep inside.

I let my teeth scrape along the tender skin, careful not to leave a mark, because I wasn't here to lay a claim. And that thought struck me. The heat, the sounds and scents in the air, the want and desire... Though all of that was amazing; it wasn't what this was about.

I pulled back; it wasn't easy. My hold on her stayed firm but I flattened my palms on the small of her back and between her shoulder blades. I took in her face, and I kissed her softly and with different intentions. “Slowly,” I whispered and touched my forehead to hers.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The fire that was alight in me was unexpected, as a Spirit Warrior we felt everything with a heightened sense, it may be in the list of reasons why I kept myself so guarded, but more so it was the fact that we couldn’t be ourselves with people.

The men I spent nights with, I could break without even trying. I could push out walls and break down trees. I could kill a vampire by ripping off their heads, and I had done that. So, to think what I could do to a human if I ever lost control was never far from my mind.

But this? As his lips and mine kissed harder, deeper, and longer. As we pulled the other in, and as his caresses moved down my neck and over my shoulder, I was aware that we couldn’t break one another. We were both matched. He was as strong as I was. A bolt shot its way through me making my eyes open and I took in the ceiling. He pulled back just as I was about to. I wasn’t thinking right, but I knew one thing…. And then he said it.

‘𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮.’

Resting my forehead to his. My hands slipped to rub the back of his neck as I closed my eyes and gathered myself. “Yes…” Slowly was how I wanted to take this. “I want that.” I wanted to know what this was between us. And slowly was the only way that would happen.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Each breath was heavy as I tried to catch it, my chest pressed into hers with each inhale. I closed my eyes, feeling her touch on the back of my neck, her forehead on mine... Such a strange and welcome touch.

“Me too.” I replied... Even though I had already said as much. She wasn't a conquest to me. “I want...” how could I say what I wanted? There weren't any words to describe it. “The journey... Not just the destination.” I whispered, knowing I sounded like a fortune cookie. But I didn't care. It was the truth, I wanted to know everything there was to know about this before we moved forward.

“I don't want to miss anything.” I tilted my face to kiss her again before stepping back, just to take her hands and then I strode backwards, sitting when my legs hit the couch.

With an amused laugh, I looked up at her still holding both of her hands hoping she would sit down too. “You know something... I kept you awake all night... And I'm not sorry.” I smiled at her. She was stunning in the hazy morning light coming in through the windows behind her.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Words were his medium. I knew what he meant with it though. It was that journey that we were undertaking that would show where the outcome of this thing would bring us.

“This… isn’t a rule…” The taking it slowly was for us both. “It’s an understanding, a knowing that we both want the same thing?” I set it out as a question to give him the time to consider if it was in fact this way for him too, even if he did say it first.

Kissing him back, this time our lips touched lightly. I didn’t pull back right away, but slowly I lifted my head letting my hands slip down his arms and he took a hold of them both. He was taking us back to the couch and I followed and then stood before him looking down.

“Spirits.” I bit the inside of my cheeks. How had we come to this? He was looking at me again as if he saw something that had been hidden up until now.

“That’s something to hold on to. And you’re not even sorry for stealing my sleep?” Trying not to concentrate on the sound of his laughter or that smile of his, or the way it made its way all the way up to his eyes. I finally sat down beside him. My eyes drifting to our hands.

“I’m not going to run away Embry.” I whispered to him.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"Not a rule" I whispered. "We've known each other a long time... I don't think we need rules on how to respect each other in that way." I knew that was a slight contradiction... I mean, I had kissed her completely out of the blue tonight.

I chuckled and moved my arm around her as she sat down. "No, I'm not. But you're tired after working all night. And good! Because I couldn't catch you if you did." I reached back for the throw draped over the back of her couch.

"If I know anything about you... you have a whole day planned." I shook out the throw and pulled it over the two of us... Not that we got cold, but some human comforts were hard habits to break. I turned into her and kissed the side of her head. The scent of her hair overwhelming me again.

"Don't think." I whispered; my arm around her shoulder again. I pulled her back with me as I rest back against the corner of the couch. "Just close your eyes... Just for a little while."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I froze in place when his arm came in around me. The movement was slow and still my instincts were to react by pushing away. I knew some things weren’t going to change overnight, years’ worth of habits didn’t just disappear because someone you knew all their life kissed you. And I wasn’t going to hold this against myself or him.

“What is it with you tonight… today…? It all started with ‘𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦’, and now you’re saying ‘𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬’? I should—”

My words cut-off. He brought me back with him after draping the couch throw over us.

“Are you…” he was staying? He was staying and he was curling up with me on my couch? “So, I guess Leah Clearwater and Embry Call are now going soft?” Yawning as I pulled my long legs up and curled them. “Hmm… long day ahead…” I muttered, fighting my heavy eyelids.

I could go for 72 hours without sleep. I couldn’t sleep with just anyone beside me like this.But now. With his arms wrapped around me. The spirits singing to calm. I found no reason to stay awake.

“Just a little. Just resting my eyes.” I muttered softly. Listening to the sound of his beating heart and his breathing as they became a lullaby.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"All of that sounds a lot like thinking, Trouble." I chuckled. I didn't acknowledge her remark about going soft... because this... was definitely something that I would consider soft.

But I still wanted to be close to her. I kissed her hair again and closed my eyes, one arm around her as she settled. "Exactly... just resting our eyes." I rested my other arm over her and settled back. The feeling of her body heat was a strange but comforting sensation, I let myself get lost in it.

- The Rules for the Bubble -

1. Family has to come first. If they need us, we go no questions asked.

2. The pack is second only to family. We will never leave our packs blind-sighted by not showing up. Never put our needs before them and the people we were born to protect.

3. No messing around when it comes to work.

4. We say, “See you soon” Instead of “Goodbye”

5. No PDA where we can be seen. And definitely not on the Rez. Or around the pups or anyone from the pack

6. We can’t leave our bikes or vehicles in front of the houses. (This is to protect the bubble)

7. Never leave on a fight or a disagreement.

8. If one of us sees the other knocked on their arse with the pack…. We will have faith that we can deal with it. Pack first. Keep your head in the right place. So, we will always reach a hand out, to pick the other up. But have the faith to know we can handle ourselves when it matters.

𝕄𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕔: 𝕊𝕃 ℙ𝕝𝕒𝕪𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝔽𝕦𝕝𝕝 - 𝕋𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥’𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥

- Playlist Breakdown -

The Fray - How To Save A Life - Acoustic Cover https://youtu.be/M43RRYVBNZk

Maroon 5 - Memories (Piano Cover) - Toms Mucenieks- https://youtu.be/w8GudmjLH1k

Warren Attwell "Only When I'm With You" - https://youtu.be/A8_wvk5ZzjU

J. S. Bach: g-minor Sonata No. 1: Siciliana | Sumina Studer - https://youtu.be/-SZwVCcg01c

Monsters (Acoustic Version) - https://youtu.be/HH3MmcJhJQ8

Coldest Water (Acoustic) – Walking on Cars - https://youtu.be/05lAbLLOijQ

Brett Eldredge - Lose My Mind -https://youtu.be/AmZhRBz8A_E

Demons - Imagine Dragons - Fingerstyle Guitar Cover - https://youtu.be/Aci2ZgyFUm8

Rachel Platten - Fight Song - Fingerstyle Guitar - https://youtu.be/514OEdx4ehc

Sean Reeves - Lifehouse - You And Me - Acoustic Cover - https://youtu.be/WUw_UQA8XYI

Shallow - Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper (Joseph Vincent Cover) - https://youtu.be/bW6HArs0mHU

Ed Sheeran – Galway Girl ( Joseph Vincent Cover ) - https://youtu.be/Zq6XLH2yuVA

Bad Habits · Ed Sheeran - https://youtu.be/hJWSZDJb-W4

Hold Me While You Wait · Lewis Capaldi https://youtu.be/arj4BDdz6qc

How to Save a Life · The Fray - https://youtu.be/ae7AACP1-R0

Magnet · Picture This - https://youtu.be/IKrq8Jv0yQE

You And Me · Lifehouse - https://youtu.be/8UiVtsVOERI

Everything · Lifehouse - https://youtu.be/i4q3-KsmCb8

Sam Hunt – Take your time - https://youtu.be/8BBuDogZHbM

- Music: Their First Kiss Playlist -

Hand in Hand - Walking on Cars - https://youtu.be/vtUjVYmTZ4g

Body like a back road – Sam Hunt - https://youtu.be/FsRB2QLndPs

Leave a Light On - Tom Walker - https://youtu.be/kCntEnZD3NE

Run - RHODES - https://youtu.be/4iZ3PxEZCvk

Flares - The Script - https://youtu.be/yPQJJbK3imU

Hold Me Up - Sam Tinnesz - https://youtu.be/9_DXd_aF2SI

Chris Isaak - Wicked Game (Acoustic Cover) - https://youtu.be/7Qwk4sBYfM0

Sia - Breathe Me (Cover by Jonathan Roy) - https://youtu.be/roquRUKuDB4

Same as Me - Tyler Shaw - https://youtu.be/oyfAPF4y3_s

Angels - Tom Walker (Live) - https://youtu.be/ahqDhT146Bc

Carry You - Ruelle - https://youtu.be/wSacp-aolpo

Two Stones - Walking On Cars - https://youtu.be/Fwh6jzwOg3M

You Are the Reason (Duet Version) - Calum Scott & Leona Lewis - https://youtu.be/1_s7eWzl4PU

Talk – Khalid - https://youtu.be/tEpuiZm94OQ

*Before the Song Is Over · Aron Wright - https://youtu.be/vZ8VgG3mGlw

Lost · Jonathan Roy - https://youtu.be/Op1iWT913oA

Start of Something Good · Daughtry - https://youtu.be/VvpdGgIlYfE

Where Do You Run · The Score - https://youtu.be/QycwSh768j4

Demons · Imagine Dragons - https://youtu.be/0Mo_jbZtE-Q

[blazingtheway]

Tonight’s the night – All bets must be paid! – Storyline 9 – Together - Part Two

Continuing on from...

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Watching the pups playing and singing has my lips curled up into a smile. ( Something they wouldn’t see. ) People who had a pull towards the arts, they had this look in their eyes, the way they become lost in the moment. And to see the pups in that trance was the reason for the smile.

When I set my phone on charge on the side table, I played with my pillow but before I could settle my head down. The whispering on the breeze picked up.

“I’m listening.” I whispered back. They weren’t the normal sounds the spirits sang to me before I joined them in their realm. There was a heaviness to this. It sat on my chest; my heart filled with an anxious feeling that wasn’t there before.

I pushed the sheet back and climbed out of my bed. My feet taking me to my window I looked out over my back yard and into the forest behind.

“Tell me…” I asked them, I closed my eyes and listened intently. But it wasn’t the spirits who answered.

I could hear a hum of music. Who was listening to music at this time of night other than me? But it was muffled to my ears.

The breeze picked up blowing into my face bringing with it a familiar scent.

“What….” Turning my head towards my bedroom door, I frowned. But before I knew it, my feet took me out my room and through my house. Darkness filled the night as I unlocked my door, and there he was.

“Did you lose your—” I stopped short taking in the view before me. The way he holds the guitar case in his hands. That heavy feeling amplified on my chest.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I stuffed my headphones into my pocket, but the music still whispered out of them. Not that anyone but Me and probably Leah could hear as she made her way to the door.

My teeth worried my lower lip when Leah pulled her door open. Her eyes were dark... And I was ready for her to be pissed that I was at her door AGAIN... and at this hour of the night. But the wasn't anger. My dark brown gaze searched hers. Worry? And pain?

"I'm sorry for showing up like this..." The muffled song changed.

( Music: Everything · Lifehouse )

"I... um..." My stomach was twisting and not because I was about to have my arse kicked. I need to ask you... no not ask..."

This wasn't a favour I was asking for... this was something I needed, if she said no, I had no idea what I would do. But I was led here for a reason, she wouldn't turn me away. "I need you to do something for me."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Eyes narrowing, I stood there looking down at him. Why was he here stood on my doorstep? The question repeated again. But I couldn’t ask or say anything.

The pressure on my chest grew, mixed with uncertainty, worry and… fear? The whispers stopped the moment I opened the door. It was like the spirits had pushed me to stand here, and now had abandoned me. ( It wouldn’t be the first time. )

I was about to tell him to spit it out. He was never shy with words. But again, my words lodged in my throat.

“Do something?” I raised my eyebrow.

Remembering we were stood outside, in the middle of the night. Even if only we could hear it, the music playing in his pocket. Words that filled the air between us.

If he needed something, it was the only reason he came to my door. I wouldn’t, I couldn’t close the door in his face. Taking a step back into my house. “You best come in.” I told him. Not waiting I walked into my house, turning a lamp on.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I took a deep breath and stepped inside, my hand dragging through my hair. That phantom hand disappeared when I shut the door behind me.

I followed her into the living room and counted the numbers I’d shown up here unannounced lately. I fished my phone out of my pocket and unplugged the headphones, stopping the music.

I didn’t make small talk…. It was far too late for that, and Leah appreciated people that didn’t beat around the bush. “Do you remember when #Tony was trying to tell me something about my grandmother’s guitar?”

I held my phone out to Leah, open to the browser where I’d searched for the value of it and the auction was still a little over four thousand dollars.

“I need you to hold onto this for me… at least for now…” I knew Leah wouldn’t let me sell this unless all other options were exhausted if another financial crisis arose.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Turning to face him, my chest still felt like a rock the size of the Grand Canyon was sat upon it.

I flexed my hands stopping them from moving up to rub my chest, I wasn’t in the habit of showing others what the Spirits did to me at times like this.

“Tony? Hmm… Yeah.” What was this about? And then realisation dawned on me a moment before he held out his phone.

At first, I stood there, watching, and taking him in. Then the case in his hands. Noticing how he held it.

Taking a few steps towards him, I took the phone and raising my eyebrow.

“Call…” shaking my head at him with a slow deep breath. Keeping my eyes on the phone, and the value it showed a moment too long.

“I thought you said you didn’t want to know. Why this then?” I held the device towards him.

But it hit me… I was questioning him? I… me… Leah Clearwater… someone who never asked questions… was asking questions now?

↬ Embry Call ↫

I sighed and dragged my hand through my hair. "I couldn't sleep... and I got curious. I figured it would be a few hundred dollars, you know... But that..." I trailed off and shrugged. I set the case on the armchair in her living room and stepped back like I didn't trust myself with it.

"I mean things are okay right now... but I can't stop thinking about what we could do with that money." I tried to catch her gaze keeping them trained on my phone. "But... I can't... I... if you have it here, then I know you won't let me sell it until we've exhausted every option."

After the way I behaved with #Jacob tonight, I didn't trust myself not to act on the spur of the moment when things got rocky again.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“You know what happened to the curious, don’t you?”

I set his phone down on the coffee table, the weight on my chest wasn’t budging at all. I tried to take a few deep breaths, but it didn’t help me. So, I stepped between him and my armchair, flipping the clips to the case and opening it. I stood back, my eyes on the white guitar with the dove on it. It was so beautiful, but more so it was the meaning it held. To others it was just a guitar, but to the Call’s it was a memory of a person who was the matriarch of their family.

When what he was saying sunk in, I spun to face him. Narrowing my eyes as I really took him in. “that money?” He couldn’t be saying what I thought he was. “Wait… Are you talking about selling Chenoa’s guitar?”

Now I placed myself between him and the armchair. There was no way he was saying that. Right? I must be misunderstanding him. I had to be.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"If you say curiosity killed the wolf..." I chuckled and shook my head. I watched her open the case and the way her eyes softened as she took it in.

But hearing those words... hearing my grandmothers name in that sentence... It chipped away a piece of my heart. "No..." I answered too fast. "I mean not yet... Maybe... if a time comes and I have no other choice."

I stuffed my hands into my pocket. "I mean she'd understand, right?... if I had to?... if it was for Mom?" I hated to even think about it... but had I have known this before Leah went up against the tribal council... those men that treated her so poorly... she never would have had to do that for us.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“Forget about anything else killing you…”

My hands were fisted now, and I was seeing red. What in the name of all the Spirits was wrong with him? How could he always get me so mad one minute, and stop me from reacting in another?

I didn’t know it happened until it was done, my left hand came out and over. The fist in place as it Swung in the air and connected with his jaw. The shock of the hit vibrated up my arm all the way to my shoulder. Hitting another Spirit Warrior wasn’t like hitting a pillow. It was more like punching a brick wall coated in titanium.

“Fuck!” My fingers smarted from the aftershock, and I flexed them. “Don’t you dare even think about selling your Nana’s guitar Embry Call!”

Grating the words out of a clinch jaw. “Would Mrs Call understand? Yes, she fucking would…. But would Ms C? Would she be able to deal with you doing that? Fuck! Would you?”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I watched her temper rise in her eyes, and I wonder if maybe part of that was to do with my behaviour with #Jake at the bar tonight. Then showing up at this hour asking for... probably a stupid favour. But...

My eyes had been so trained on her that I didn't see the shift in her until the punch landed, whipping my head to the side with a loud grunt. I felt a shockwave of the echo through my ears. "What the Fuck!!" I snapped my head back to her, but she was raging at me.

Yelling all the things I wanted to yell at myself for even considering this option. Her jaw was set in a furious expression, and I noticed she'd left her windows open... like she always did.

I took her by her arm and tugged her the few steps towards the window... knowing the action could be the death of me. I turned her to where the cool breeze came into her home and stood behind her, my hand clamped firmly on her shoulders, enough that Leah could shake herself free if she really wanted to. "Leah.... Breathe." I softened my voice... with my still aching jaw but fading fast. "I came here for your help... to stop me from doing something stupid and irrational."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

"GET YOUR HANDS—" my words cut short, the red still pulsing in my eyes when my wolf came too.

‘Leah…. stop!!’ She pleaded with me. ‘This is not you…. Stop….’ She flashed the image of the boxing ring in my head, and then this. Me stood here in my house, my safe place. With Call stood before me.

“Fuck!” The tremor in my shoulders had started to rumble down my spine when he stood me facing out the window. The spirits had stopped singing, not a hum in the air. It was like they were holding their breath. Waiting. Watching.

“I… am… breathing…” again I said it through gritted teeth. He came to me to stop him from doing something stupid.

“You thought of me… when thinking about selling something that belonged to your nana? Me? Really? I was your only hope here?” It came out with half a not so funny laugh.

“Do you know me?” My hands clasped onto the windowsill tight, I have to remind myself not to break it. “Do you know what family means to me?”

↬ Embry Call ↫

When I felt her take in a few breaths I pulled my hands away... she knew I was nothing like the idiots that thought they could put their hands all over her, and that she should feel lucky for having their attention. But still... I knew she didn't want me to touch her right now... Or at all really. Other than training.

"Yes, Leah... I know you. I know that you are probably the only person that would understand what this guitar means to me. And I know that knowing you have this means I'll come to you if things get bad again."

She knew what it was like. She watched her mom struggle after her dad died. "I knew that you would understand what it was like to watch mom struggle and have the only thing could do to help was something that broke your heart to do." My chest got tight and the breeze from the open window blew the scent of her shampoo past my nose. "I knew you'd knock some sense into me." I gave a small laugh but there was little humour in it.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

When he let go of me and stepped back, I could breathe again. Having him in my space had been uneasy. Not because I thought he would do anything. ( I was more than 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 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!

↬ Embry Call ↫

I took another few steps back and sank down into her couch... She had a good point there. I knew now that I 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.” I looked up at her now. Gauging her reaction.

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

“I’m sorry... I really have to stop showing up unannounced on your doorstep.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My throat worked but no words were there, my face 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 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?”

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

↬ Embry Call ↫

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 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 I 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 thicken, and my throat felt tight.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 as 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 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.

↬ Embry Call ↫

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

“I just think it should be me to sacrifice first. And I can't stand the thought of you going back to that place again... I would never tell you how to live your life... But I didn't want to be 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 was the kind of person that spoke to me like I was a man even before I was. I felt like I was following him tonight. For the time it took me to get here... It was like he was right here. And then he was gone when I realised where I was.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 pick 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.

“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, 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?

↬ Embry Call ↫

“I could say the same thing to 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 think 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 don't want 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 like you’re 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 lately.”

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

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘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 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 “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, I sat back again. “They have always been there, it’s just that you are only now listening.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

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… I'm hoping you'll still hang onto it for me.” I nodded again. “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 me 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 again, watching for those small tells, and trying really hard not to notice the soft almond tones of her skin in the dim light. The woman had just decked me and doing that would only entice a second swing.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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. ‘That’s where your thoughts are taking you? Not the fact that he is here for help?’ A rush of guilt hit me hard hearing my Wolf. 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 speak to everyone in their own way. What may work for one person, may not 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, an 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 theirs?” Did he know what they had set out for him?

↬ Embry Call ↫

I nodded and smiled at her, knowing she wouldn't want a thank you, even though it went against everything inside me not to. But I was in her space, so 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 choose my own path if I don't like 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 your fate is?”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 has 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.

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 and lifted it out. “Like the world lifted off my heart.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I nodded as I listened to her. I remembered what it was like to carry around that weight... I might not have known 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 your shoulders...” My eyes never left her. “But you know you're going to be Alpha... You won't back down from that.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Why was I still looking at him? What was I searching for here? Maybe I could try to understand 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.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

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 #Jake not taken his role as alpha it likely would have been the three us together.

“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 talking about feelings wasn’t her strong suit

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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. 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.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"The world isn't that black and white. Leah. I shifted forward and turned to face her. "We are a pack... to function we need a chain-of-command. #Jake 𝕔𝕒𝕟'𝕥 leave... not if it means will be leaderless. This isn't a vacation he's taking Leah. And yeah, I might not be thrilled at his timing but #Nessie is a free spirit... she spent a lot of her life hidden from the world and now she wants to go out and see it... I can understand why she wants that. And why he needs to go with her."

I was shocked she was offering me a drink instead of telling me it was time to go. "You know I'll never turn down a drink." I said in a softer tone and used the opportunity while she was out of the room to bring up a perspective that I knew might make her uncomfortable.

"Have you ever stopped to think that it will make it easier for #Jake to leave and be happy knowing the pack has a strong leader?" I felt a twinge in my gut when I thought how torn he must be, the alpha and the imprinted in him both at war. I wasn't making it any easier on him either.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“Isn’t that half of the problem? The world for us is never just black and white. There’s so much grey that we don’t even know where we stand.”

And really I liked that part. We were always tested, and made to think about how things should be, and what needed to change. But this?

Placing the peas in the fridge, they were melted and I’d need to do something with them in the morning. But the ice was gone. So, I ripped the bag open letting the water go down the drain before binning the bag.

“The thing you are forgetting here Call… Jake doesn’t know what the Spirits are asking of me. Only you do.” And why in the name of the spirits was that? Why had I told him?

I rubbed my face. My hands flat on the counter top as I listened and breathe out. “He was ready to go that day. Packing up his things and poof…” I shook my head recalling the sight. Of standing there and watching.

“And you know I care about Jake and Ness. I was there the day that girl was born… but Fuck…” My chest started to tighten again. “He is our Alpha, But… Ness being his imprint… that means something too. And I’m not talking down the line when they have kids and all that crap. I mean all the imprints, they have a responsibility towards the tribe too. They have a role they were born to fulfil. And from where I am standing… right now… Emily is the only one stepping up to do that.”

Filling two glasses with doubles, one with whiskey I kept for the Kid, and the other with my bourbon. I returned to the living room.

A half laugh, with no humour in it escapes my lips. “Jake’s words to Billy, were about how he was leaving the pack in the capable hands of his Beta.” Walking over I set his glass on the table before him.

“I’m not pissed about it. I never thought about being Alpha. I never dreamt of any of this. It’s…. It’s… not black and white Call.” And I was repeating his words back to him.

↬ Embry Call ↫

“I don’t think that’s true; the girls always try to pitch in when the can.” I knew that #Emily was more involved in the community than any of them. And then #Sue, of course.

I listened to everything she was saying. “This is why you and #Jake need to talk about this… I’m mean you aren’t going to take Alpha from him if he says he doesn’t want to, right?”

I knew the spirits didn’t get things wrong if they told Leah she would be Alpha it was going to happen. But that wasn’t the point I was trying to make. I took the drink from her and set my dark gaze on her again.

“Right now, you have this stress and anxiety about something that might not happen. You worry about displacing our Alpha and you don't even know if he is planning on stepping down or not. If he is... Then we will need a leader and Jake will have absolute faith in his successor.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My brows pulled together, and I was biting on the inside of my cheeks. He was saying the same thing I heard from Ma and #Emily all the time. And yet it was always those two, left to be the representatives of the pack with the rest of the tribe.

I rubbed my face, sitting down on the far side of the couch. ( Well as far as I could make it with him sat on it too. )

“Let’s just agree to disagree.” I told him taking a hard gulp of the liquid in my glass. I could feel his eyes on me, but this time I didn’t glance back. Instead, I concentrated on the wall ahead of us. My eyes drifting to the guitar case on my armchair.

“I don’t do stress or anxiety.” Taking a sip this time from the glass. “It’s just…” I shook my head. “Why am I even telling you all of this?”

Why in the name of the spirits was I? I was used to doing this all alone. Working out the spirits, the pack and the tribe’s needs. But here he was again.

↬ Embry Call ↫

She was avoiding my gaze but that Was okay, she knew I was looking at her. “Okay maybe they weren’t the best choice of words.” I said, letting her have that one. Even though I knew she was in pain when I got here.

I just chuckled and took a sip from the drink she gave me and set it on the coffee table.

“Because you trust me.” I teased and stood up. “But until you’re ready to tell me what 𝕚𝕥’𝕤 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 is...” I lifted the guitar out of the case then took my seat on the couch again.

“I’m going to make myself at home.”

I sat back and settled the guitar across my lap... Leah didn't slip up... Whatever she was going to say, she meant to say. So, if she needs time to figure why she meant to say it... I could wait.

I started to tease out a few chords. Keeping my eyes down and giving her the space to think.

( Music: Sam Hunt – Take your time )

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes now followed him unwillingly around the coffee table. I was ready to set my drink down and jump over it to take him down if he tried to run with the guitar now. But instead, he was being a Wisearse.

I took another sip from the glass, my head darting up, and my eyebrows shot up too. “Haven’t you been doing that openly of recent?”

But then again, I wasn’t kicking him out.

‘You can’t, he only comes here when he is looking for help.’ My wolf whispered. And I knew she had a point. But wasn’t #Quil and #Jake his go to?

“Are you threatening me with a good time?” Pointing to the guitar as the cords he played started to form a tune I recognised. Sam Hunt… Take your time…

‘Unspoken message’ she said as I drank.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I chuckled when she mentioned I was making myself at home a lot lately. She was right… but every time I ended up here it felt I was where I was meant to be. Despite knowing that Leah hated having people in her space.

“I suppose I have.” I smirked cheekily and neglected to mention that she’d never kicked me out. My fingers still plucking strings.

I winked at her and replied. “It’s always a good time when it’s me and a guitar, Trouble. You should know that by now.” I knew there was a lot going on behind those deep brown eyes right now.

I was happy to distract her until those thoughts took shape. I just played the song and had lyrics playing in my head as I did.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“I’m not adding your name to the list.” Muttering, as I rested my head back on the couch. #Seth was my Kid, #Mac had somehow made his place in too. But now Call too? Nope…

‘Stop lying to yourself. You don’t lie.’ Now that my Wolf was sure I wouldn’t hit him. she lay her head down and closed her eyes.

I pursed my lips tight, the words to the tune had started to form. But I knew how to keep them locked away. I didn’t need to think, it was an action I did without needing to.

Bringing the glass up to my lips I stopped in my tracks, reaching out I slapped him over the side of his head. “Who do you think you are winking at here? Are you forgetting men have lost their crown jewels for less?” He was really making himself at home here.

This time I did take a mouthful of the bourbon, my eyebrow raising at being called 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 again. “You really have a death wish tonight, just know if I do kill you… I will keep Ms C happy.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I laughed at her again as my fingers stilled over the strings. I ignored her empty threats, if she was going to do that she would have when she slugged me.

"So, are we going to talk about whatever it was you wanted to say, or do you need to keep it to yourself and come find me when you're ready?" And I didn’t say the ' 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦', that was running through my mind.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I had my eyes trained on the ceiling now. Listening to the mix of his fingers playing with the guitar strings, and the effects he seemed to have on the Spirits tonight.

My head turned slowly towards him again. He hadn’t forgotten. I had deflected, change the subject, and he pulled me right back to where I stopped.

“What makes you think I’d come looking for you?”

My wolf scoffed, rolling her eyes at me. ‘Does he have to start a fresh each time he comes to see you?’

↬ Embry Call ↫

This was exactly the response I was expecting. “Because there are clearly some things you need to get off your chest and say out loud.” I explained plainly. Leaning over my guitar carefully, to grab my drink from the coffee table and finish it.

“And if you're not ready to talk to #Jake about those things, then I don't see why I couldn't be your sounding board.” I gave a slight shrug off my shoulders and turned my gaze back on her. “I mean there's a reason, I'm the only one you've told, right? Even if neither of us knows why.”

I set the empty glass down again and played lightly with the string without a tune in mind.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My throat worked as I consider him. Narrowing my eyes, ready to tell him I wasn’t the sharing type. But he was right. I’d already shared, I’d already put my burdens on his shoulder. And right now, no one else knew about any of it.

But before I could think, I asked another question. “Why did you say what you did to Jake tonight? You must have known we could all hear you. The pups, the wolves… Ness…”

I wasn’t deflecting this time, I needed to know.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I exhaled heavily and looked down to compose myself, I wasn't at all proud of how I behave with #Jake tonight.

I set my gaze back on hers. “Ever since I found out the Jake was leaving; I've been avoiding him... Because when I saw him all I could think was ‘How am I supposed to survive losing my mom without him?’” I dragged my hand through my hair. “It was a moment of weakness. I let the dark thoughts win. But I didn't think the kids would hear with the rain and all of them talking. But I can talk to them. I’ll set it straight again.”

I didn't apologise to her again, I would prove that by talking to the kids and making it right.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

A sense of pressure built at the bridge of my nose, the base of my jaw tightened, and I was overcome internally feeling the prickling behind my eyes. That pressure was more pronounced building on my chest, and I for some reason couldn’t take the air around me into my lungs. Rubbing my eyes and my temples with one hand, I took the rest of my bourbon down in one.

“I don’t know if fixing it is the right thing to say or do. Maybe because of who you are, and how you are… what the pups, Jake and You need is to show them your fear?”

I wasn’t mad at him for what he said, it was more about how and where it was said. Okay, sure I was pissed at the time. But #Jake had been the one to ask and push. And Call… well… we all heard where that had ended.

↬ Embry Call ↫

“Oh... I'm not sorry that I let that fear show.” I said without hesitation. “But #Jake doesn't deserve what I said. He’s been with me through everything... None of this is his fault. And #Ness needs him a lot more than I do.”

I sat back a little and set the guitar to the side gently. “They need to know that the older Warriors aren't flawless, we are all still human too, that when we screw up, we can fix it. The pack is about more than having each other's back on runs, it’s all the time.”

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

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 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?

‘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.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

“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 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...”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 spoke. 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.

“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?’ she dug in there without a breath.

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

↬ Embry Call ↫

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 when 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 he leaves. I would have regretted it if I hadn't told him how I felt. It could have been much different, but it's done. I mean of all the people to say that to....” I shook my head. “He was so young when he lost his mom... I’m not proud of it.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 others of 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. 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.

↬ Embry Call ↫

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 I 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’s some great advice..." I said with a hint of mischief. "Have you ever thought about taking it yourself?"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

And there it was, somehow, 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 again, a little too pleased due to the fact that Call was on 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.”

Just because I knew what I should 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 were winning. And that pissed me off too. I hated 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧?

↬ Embry Call ↫

I knew she would go that way... I just laughed softly and shook my head. I shifted closer and nudged her knee with mine. Trying to get her 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 that part of the conversation. Look... I’m not trying to tell you what to do. But you should give it some thought. Maybe even talk it over with someone wiser.” I tapped a finger against her tattooed 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.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The sound of my couch moving was the giveaway before he 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 knowing the truth, knowing I would never back away if someone asked for help. 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 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 remained on him as I spoke now. “It’s not fair that I am making you someone who is keeping my 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.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

“Have you really, though? Have you 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. I wanted her to hear it too. I knew if you plant a seed, Leah had it in her to do the rest.

I laughed a little when she said she wasn't sure. That sounded familiar. “I've heard that 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.

If it's handed to you simply because you were the first to shift, or because of your last name... Your bloodline. Then you are entitled... It hasn't been earned, why strive to be better when your title tells you, you already are? And I'll tell 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 flutter from hers once. “He didn't listen to me... And it ended with brothers and sisters at war with one another. This... This change can be peaceful. If it's done right.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My mouth parted at his first question; did he think I was lying to him. Of course, I had been thinking about it all. It had consumed my life ever since I learnt the truth of my birth, why I was the first female to shift, and what the spirits had wanted from me.

‘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 suit. But that’s another story.

“You told Jake that? I didn’t know.” I was thinking about all the outcomes that could play out. And what I had determined was all the ways issues could be caused for the packs.

“How do you know? There is no way you could know that if…. IF I stepped up... it would be smooth Sailing.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

“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 going to be okay. 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 when you were bit of a hot head. You know the forest better than any of us.” I didn’t just mean knowing her way around, it was like she heard it.

“Then on top of all of that you’re a Clearwater… your dad was the smartest man I knew, and your mom is the kindest, and most caring… they both always put others first. #Seth is all #Sue but you are both… just in your own unique way. Alpha bloodlines or not Leah… I’d pick you. This generation is different from the past…”

I pointed to myself.

“I may be the first, but I won’t be just the half Makah warrior, and I won’t be the last… #Jake’s imprint on #Nessie… You, yourself phasing in the first place. And then Collin imprinted on a girl from how far away? The tribe is changing Leah… and the ancestors don’t make mistakes.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 had he come to such conclusions?

When did he have the time to find such insight?

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. Closing my eyes and letting it all sink in.

“Why hadn’t I even thought about this part? If I stepped 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.

↬ Embry Call ↫

My gaze stayed on her, she seemed shocked into silence for a few moments. I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees, clasping my hands in front of me. “Because you’re stuck in a loop thinking you’ll be displacing #Jacob. But I think you’re missing a vital piece of the puzzle Leah. One that can only come from Jake.” I wondered if she’d stopped to think about it at all. What things would be like. I knew some of the guys would test her but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing… she was more capable of showing them their place.

“Did you ever stop and think what it could mean for the others… the girl’s especially, the kid’s that will come along, even the council… a female Alpha is a game changer. They’ll have to 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.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

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 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 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 my 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 to show me these things I had somehow missed?

↬ Embry Call ↫

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 did that oddly satisfying and very confusing twisting thing again.

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

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I was lost, listening to them, hearing what they were telling us and then passing on to the spirits who weren’t here to be seen or heard.

I wished #TheGreatWolf was here, spirits did I have so much to ask him. How had Call stepped into a place that I hadn’t seen open. My eyes had been gliding over the darkness of the forest behind my house when I felt the touch on my arm. I didn’t mean to do it. It was a reflex that was ingrained into my DNA.

My opposite hand moved to sit over his. I gripped his hand hard and twisted it around and up to free my arm. Using my shoulder to push back into his chest, my elbow hit the middle of his ribs, and I took his legs out with one swoop of my foot.

‘LEAH!!!!’ My wolf cried out.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed. “He shocked me!” Which I didn’t even know anyone could do. But now his body was flying back towards the ground, and I was left in a spin.

“FUCK!”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I really should have known better... But here I was assuming we had some kinda bonding moment... and we had (Not that Leah would ever admit it, but it happened). But bonding or not... she was Leah Clearwater.

I only had a split second between her grabbing my hand and knocking the air out of my lungs to comprehend all of this. Then I was prioritising my survival as I fell...

One... Don't land on her furniture, because If I was the cause of any more damage to her house, I wasn't going to live to see another sunrise.

Two... Don't land on my head... even if it didn't knock me out, she was fast and the few seconds it might take me to focus would be all she needed.

I managed to land on my shoulder and pull in enough air to sweep her legs. While she looked just as stunned at her reaction as I was.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

As I stood about to grab him before he hurt himself, my legs were swept out from underneath me.

“Fuck!” It was becoming my go to word tonight, my body fell towards him, but I land with my arms outstretched. My hair falling forward covering the frown on my face.

“What…” before saying anything, I flipped myself up on a handstand, sending myself over his fallen body, just missing my coffee table. I landed head-to-head behind him.

Reaching up behind me, I slapped his head.

“What was that for? Don’t you know better than to come up behind a Spirit Warrior by now? It’s not like you are one too!”

The wind wasn’t knocked out of me. But his move had taken me by surprise. Because my wolf had been shouting in my head about sending him flying.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I sucked a few deep breaths. "Really? What was that for?" I said with a very aggressive eye roll.

"Yeah, I am one and I tend to tackle my pack brothers to the ground whether they come up behind me or not." I huffed and swatted her hand away a little too late.

What the hell did she think of me if that was her go-to reaction when we were alone?

I chewed my lip and pinched the bridge of my nose, pushing that thought down. I was the one invading her space....again.

"I think I've long over-stayed my welcome..." I thought out loud. "I'm sorry for showing up in the middle of the night... but thank you, for hanging onto the Gibson for me..." I pulled myself back up to my feet and pushed my hair back out of my face.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I rubbed my hand over my face. What was wrong with me? But the truth was I knew what was wrong. It was taking a little longer than normal to shed the skin I wore in Seattle. I kept my mouth shut and lay there, this time my wolf didn’t say anything as all the walls came up. And I didn’t even know when they had come down.

And he thought I was the right pick by the Spirits?

“Hmm...” is all the sound I made, pulling my upper body up off the ground. I combed my fingers through my hair, pulling it up into a messy bun over the top of my head.

“It… it will be here when you feel it’s safe to take it back.”

‘Aren’t you going to tell him why you reacted?’ She whispered low and this time I pushed her back and closed the door.

This was no one’s business, this was something I was dealing with. The Spirits had helped me, but the human and the Warrior needed to catch up.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I could see that she was beating herself up over her snap reaction... I didn't need to add to that, not everything that I was sure was on her mind after everything we had spoken about tonight.

I watched her do that thing with her hair and my heart faltered, even though the light had dimmed a little in her eyes. I told myself it was from the shock of being dropped on my arse for a momentary lack of common sense. I nodded and gave her a real smile.

I did wish that I could trust myself, but when it came to Mom I tended to act first and think later. And a small thought in the back of my mind told me that it was another reason to see her. But that was stupid... I saw Leah almost every day. But the gratitude for her holding onto the guitar was real.

"All of this will work out Leah... I know you don't do the talking thing... but the offer still stands... and you know where to find me." I grabbed my jacket and made my way out of her living room to the front door.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I didn’t look back at him, just got myself to my feet and straighten out. It was a fools move, and it only happened because somehow I had let my guard down.

The songs on the air had stopped, and the night sky had started to lighten. The time had disappeared on me without my seeing it.

Raising my eyebrow, I heard his heart do something off key. Had I hurt him? Nah… it was Call, he had taken a lot harder from me in the past. I moved to the coffee table, picking up the two glasses to take them to the kitchen, listening to him reiterating his offer. And when I finally did look up at him, he was smiling?

The kind that touched his eyes, and told you it was true. It stopped me in my tracks, and I just nodded my head. I knew, he knew, I didn’t go looking for people. I hadn’t in all my grown life.

“Don’t do anything stupid on your way home.” I’d made my way into the kitchen, placing both the glasses in the sink. Then continued to make my way to the kitchen opening by the front door, opening it wide and standing back.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Something in her seemed to ease... but still. The glimpse of her that I had seen just a few moments ago...was gone. And I didn't know why... but the idea of not seeing that woman she had hidden away inside, again... It didn't sit right with me.

I chuckled as I shrugged into my jacket. "I make no promises!" I flashed her another smile. Hoping it let her know she had no need to explain herself... whatever this was tonight; it was between us, and it was okay. I stepped out into the chilled air.

"Good ni--" I stopped and looked up and around me. "Good morning, Trouble. I'll see you soon."

I knew she wouldn't come looking for me to talk about any of this stuff. But maybe I had planted a few seeds tonight. I knew if she just spoke to Jake... it would take so much of this weight off her shoulders.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes drifted up to the sky, the start of the birds song just hitting from afar. The night had turned into the next day, and Embry Call was still at my doorstep.

“Not if I see you first.” I was leaning back to give him room. Two spirit warriors in the doorway of a house in La Push was a squeeze on the best of days.

And there he said it again. ‘Trouble’, it used to grate on me because of the irony of it. But now… after tonight... and my actions… I guessed he was right.

“See you soon Dimples.”

Reaching out I closed the door. I wasn’t going to stand there watching him walk away. This wasn’t the end of some sad movie or book. It was life, and in real life. Leah Clearwater didn’t do that crap.

Turning I rested my back against the door. Rubbing my face. My lips parted but I stopped myself from saying something. He was still in ear range.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I laughed and shook my head. Fine... I could let her have the last word. I mean she'd shown up to the sanctuary and she hadn't slammed the door in my face when I turned up here.

When I heard her door click shut, I rubbed my jaw and remembered her punch. I glanced back and rolled my eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have let her have the last word. I popped my headphones into my ears and hit shuffle on my favourite Irish artists playlist. Walking on Cars played.

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘺

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸

The words played and I was only a few steps away. I didn't know if it was the fact that Sorcha was on the keys.... Or Patrick Sheehy's flawless vocals. But I turned around and walked back up to the door. Even with the music playing in my ears I could hear her heart beating on the other side of the door.

"Leah." I said softly through the barrier. "Open the door."

( Music: Hand In Hand -Walking On Cars )

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My head jerked up, I could hear the muffled sound of music playing, the sound of his footsteps returning. My eyebrows pulled together when I heard the sound of his heart beating and then his voice. My mind worked over what he could have forgotten. Only the guitar, it was the only thing he had arrived with. And he wasn’t going to take that back with him. I wasn’t going to let him make that mistake.

Slowly I pushed off the door, my brow still worried as I opened it to find him stood there and now the sound of the song, he was listening to was clear. Was he stealing from my playlist again? It was the only reason he could have so many of the tracks I liked.

“What’s the matter?” I asked, my eyes finding his.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I put one foot inside her door again and the moment I did, my heart raced.

"Nothing." I answered her then I was pushing the door closed behind me to conceal us from the deserted street. Only I would be crazy enough to come to Leah's door at this hour and not have an emergency.

But, in a way... this was something that couldn't wait. A moment of clarity, a moment to grab on to and live in completely. ... even if this was the craziest thing I had ever contemplated.

I stepped in closer to her, my tongue darting over my lips. She was going to kill me. "Don't Kill me." I whispered, leaning down, and brought my lips so close to hers that I could feel the heat of her breath on my skin... And Spirit's... had she always smelt this good?

My stomach wouldn't settle... and I wasn't sure I wanted it to. I pressed my lips against hers, a light, lingering kiss and everything lifted... the weight on my shoulders...the feeling I was about to verve off in a bad direction... it was gone. Walking on cars still played into my ears and I knew she heard it too.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

He moved to come in again, so without thinking about it my feet took me back into the house. My keen eyes saw everything, something was off about him. The tentative step over my threshold. The way he looked at me, the sound of his heart beat, the lick of his lips.

“What…?” I tilted my head trying to understand what had happened, what was happening. Why would I kill him?

And then he was right there, he’d closed the space between us, and a fire was set alight within me. Nobody had dared to break that hard line I had drawn in the sand. And here he was again. Embry Call and his bloody hugs?

I was about to hold my hand up to stop him, but then his lips were just inches away from mine with our eyes locked together in an unbreakable way.

It all happened so fast, so slow all at the same time. A million questions and emotions raised their head, but for once my Wolf was shocked into silence. She watched with wild eyes, but her words of wisdom had dried up.

“What… The… Fuck…” The reaction came without time, no time to think, no time to stop. My left hand fisted and the next thing I knew my right pushed him back and my left upper hook met his jaw. The pain of the hit darted up to my elbow and I stumbled back from him. Anger fuelled my action, or was it something else?

Something was off in that moment, I knew how I should feel, how I should react, how I should go in for another punch to his nose this time. And I took the step forward to do it. But something stopped me. Something pulled my hand back from hitting him.

And in all this time, Hand in Hand by Walking On Cars was playing like a soundtrack.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Something hot flared to life in me. But in a split second, it was doused. I knew it was coming when she planted her right hand on my chest. I didn't block or duck.

Her fist struck my jaw making me taste blood as the inside of my cheek split open against my teeth.

I saw stars and stepped back. reaching a hand out to lean on the wall behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut until the stars receded. Which luckily didn't take that long, because when they opened, she was stepping towards me.

"Leah." I held out a hand in surrender. "I might have deserved that one... but..." I saw her stop and disappeared into her thoughts again before I asked her not to hit me again. Mostly because she'd hate herself for it later.

The song still played through the headphone now hanging over the collar on my jacket, freed from my ears with the blow. My eyes set on hers still... The trickle of blood in my mouth was already stopping and even with the coppery taste on my tongue, I didn't regret it. "But... I'm not sorry." I finished the sentence.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My heart was pounding in my chest, and in my ears too. The scent of his blood was the only thing to bring me out of the mind trap I had fallen into. What the actual fuck had just happened? Why did he do that? What was he thinking?

“Fuck!” the word was low and a rumble in the depths of me. I didn’t do screaming and shouting, I just did getting even. I took another step back from him until I heard his voice, and it slowly fell into place.

“You aren’t sorry? The Fuck is wrong with you?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. And my mind was calling on the moment as it played in my head on replay. He came back in, he moved into me, his lips lingered over mine and then…. “What were you thinking? What in the name of the Spirits were you thinking? I’m not one of your shorties Embry Call. I’m not warming your bed to make you forget tonight.”

But even as I said the words, they felt wrong. This wasn’t him. This wasn’t the Embry Call I had somehow found on my door step these past days. He wouldn’t kiss me …. I didn’t let that thought finish, because if I let myself believe that he had just come over tonight to conquer me… He wouldn’t be leaving this house alive.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"Fuck!" Mine was louder than hers... But of course, that was what she thought. My hand worked my jaw and then I dragged it through my hair.

"Spirit's Leah is that what..." I stopped myself because it's what I'd spent years making people think of me. I couldn't be annoyed at her for thinking what I had wanted people to.

"What was I thinking..." I repeated. I shook my head and clicked my jaw again... Fuck! That hurt. I'd hate to think what her right fist could do... but That thought just flashed memories of her fist connecting with another jaw and blood spraying onto her face.

"I was thinking that walking away from your door was the biggest fucking mistake of my life! Which clearly makes me insane!" Leaning back against the wall and dragged my hand roughly through my hair, yelling at her really just made all of this even crazier. I lowered my voice. "I don't know why.... or how... I just..." My eyes found hers again... searching. For anything, for a glimpse of the woman behind the wall.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

He was yelling at me. Embry Fucking Call… was yelling at me?

‘Listen…’ oh she finally woke up from the nap of a life time now? And she replied again. ‘Listen.’

Hadn’t I been doing that all this time? Listening, understanding, or at least trying to?

His question took me off my guard again. Once again, he was saying something that I was thinking. I knew that wasn’t him, I knew he lived up to what the tribe and people expect of him, just as I did. And so, I knew it was wrong the moment those words left my lips. And yet he was still here. Why hadn’t he run?

“What are you even talking about? Insanity is thinking that I wouldn’t react, insanity is thinking you could do that? Fuck Call!”

I pulled at my hair that came apart and fell open, falling down past my shoulders. “What am I meant to do with this? I am your BETA! This…. Fuck… this….” My words never came out when I needed them. It’s why I didn’t use them much.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I laughed humourlessly and pushed off the wall, standing on my own two feet... or... well shuffling awkwardly from one to the other. Biting my lip until it sent a twinge along my jaw.

"Do you think you're the only one here that was blindsided by this?" I shook my head like she should be able to guess what was running around my hectic mind.

"Don't make this about the pack Leah... we both know where those priorities stand. I didn't kiss my Beta... I kissed Leah Clearwater."

And fuck!!!

All I could think about was that I wanted to do it again. But I couldn't cross that line... I touched her three times tonight and two of those... she thought all the worst things that everyone thought about me.

I was sorry for the second one... which was insane because it was a small touch to her. Her question rattled around the loudest in my head. "Tell me what you want me to do?" I shrugged in answer.

"Tell me... and I'll do it. Tell me to walk out that door and forget this ever happened and I'll do it... if that's what you want. Just say it." I wasn't sure I could forget it... but I knew I would try.

But one thing I knew I couldn't live with was being the one to choose to walk away.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

That laugh of his grated on me. It wasn’t truly his laughter…. And 𝙒𝙝𝙮 was i thinking about what his laugh said to me right now?

I rubbed my forehead, his words… the ones my wolf told me to listen to replaying.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦! 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦!

Insane? Walking away from a door that had never been open in that way? And the physical door had been closed?

My eyes were back on his feet now, seeing that awkward movement he did when he was trying to say something, and not knowing if it was coming across correctly. And then my glance was on his face and that lip bite again. But this one was again full of uncertainty?

“Blindsided? You… you were blindsided by an action you took?” Was he for real here? What was I missing in this picture set before me?

And before I could go on my words dried up.

𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘩... 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘢... 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳.

What did that even mean? “I am Leah Clearwater... and I am…” and then I stopped.

𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘢... 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳.

He didn’t kiss his Beta… he kissed me…? My stomach twisted and turned. I placed my hand over it trying to steady myself. I ended up falling back into the wall behind me. Leaning over half way to breathe.

His kiss still replaying in my head. “Tell you? Tell you what to do? When I don’t even know what just happened. Why it happened… how…”

I peered up at him before straightening up. The sting in my hand was forgotten. And I was looking at him again.

Swallowing hard, trying to put the words together. “Walk away Embry, you were emotional, upset… you didn’t mean to do this. We all know that I’m not the kind of woman you want in any way, shape, or form. This was a mistake; one we don’t need to tell anyone about.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I didn't reach out for her when she leaned back against the wall. It went against every natural instinct in my being. And not because she needed saving...because it was what you did for people you cared about when sthey were clearly in distress...

The punch had landed softer than those words. "Okay..." I sighed... I tried... but she seemed too determined to keep herself behind those walls and they had been flung back up between us. "Okay... I'll go because I told you I would do what you asked me to... But nothing else you said..." I forced myself into her eyeline. "𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕖" I pressed the words. "Is true. I'm thinking more clearly than I have in weeks Leah. And as for the kind of woman you are... do you even know the answer to that? Because every day since that night in my mother's kitchen I've seen parts of you I never knew existed... and probably a few that you don't even know about yourself."

I opened the door and stepped out; I didn't close it behind me. That would be her choice too. I also didn't stop myself glancing back as I yanked the headphones out of my phone and stopping the music that I really couldn't listen to right now.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

What did he mean? Seen what? In who? In me? I hadn’t shown him anything. I hadn’t said anything that was any different to who….

My thoughts stopped when the air began to dance on my skin. The early morning had been quite unusually silent like they were all holding their breaths. And now their whispering began to sing in my ears.

‘Alewisdodi nasgi asgaya.’ ( Stop him )

But I couldn’t. Why would I stop him… I was his Beta, his protector, I was meant to be there for him. And this…

𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘢... 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳.

They replayed his words back over and over again. And then the snap shots followed.

Embry walking into #HwH smelling of cheap perfume, and the night before.

Embry on the top of the cliffs, grabbing me and jumping.

Embry on the beach, climbing the cliffs and holding his hand out for me.

Embry stood in Ms C’s Kitchen.

Embry at my door in the rain.

Embry sat in shock at the boxing match.

Embry pushing his way into the locker room.

Embry cleaning up the blood from my hands and face.

And so many more, they didn’t stop the images. The pain in my chest was back and this time I couldn’t hold in the gasp.

I didn’t move, I didn’t stop him. I had no right to. I had 𝘕𝘰 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵!

↬ Embry Call ↫

Each step was heavier than the last. This was wrong. I was letting her retreat behind those walls. This would be it… everything that had changed between us was going to disappear.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

I could hear her heart beating from across the street, air suddenly stirred from eeriest still to a sailing rustle that carried Leah’s gasp to me.

There was nothing I could do for her. “Leah.” I stood across the street from her door, waiting for her attention to turn to me. “Just breathe.” I spoke just like I was standing next to her. “It’s okay.” I nodded and took an exaggerated breath. “Breathe… you’ve got this.”

I waited and watched… I couldn’t walk away when she was like this… if I wouldn’t do that to one of the guys, I couldn’t do it to her.

“One breath at a time, don’t think about anything else. Just your next breath.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

What was happening to us? Why were they doing this to us now? Why here? Why this now, after what had taken place between the two of us tonight?

So many questions and they gave me no answers. They were waiting on something, but what?

His voice sounded in my ear as if he was stood right beside me. I closed my eyes tight, why hadn’t he left? Why hadn’t he just kept walking?

Swallowing back the next gasp I finally looked up and across the street as he stood glancing back at me. His guidance to get me to breathe Infuriated and calmed all at the same time.

And somehow, I started to breathe once again. I saw him as the day started to break over his head. The boy who had once stood at my door full of fear, had become a man full of certainty and confidence. He wasn’t doing this for himself, just like he had in Seattle… he was still stood there for Me.

Spirits… How? How had I missed this? What had he seen in me? How had I let those walls down? Even more questions filled my mind.

↬ Embry Call ↫

My heart faltered again when she looked up at me. But I smiled when she started to take even breaths. It was real, but beneath I knew I don't belong here. I should cross the street and stay with her until this... Whatever it was... passed.

But that would be a betrayal of what I’d promised her. Though then again, she had told me to walk away... And I had... I didn't get far... But...

I shook my head at my own stupidity. Looking away as I stuffed my hands into my jacket pocket. The music in the breeze was gone.

Even from here, I could see her spiralling down into too many thoughts. “Just your next breath. Let the rest fall away Leah. Everything’s going to be okay.”

I wasn't convinced of this... It was just us here... So, it would be. It felt uneasy. And I was rooted into the spot now, I couldn't go to her... I could leave. Not until the fear in her was gone... It was my fault it was there at all.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Alewisdodi nasgi asgaya.’ ( Stop him )

They whispered louder this time and I shook my head, I planted myself to the spot. Telling them No! This wasn’t right, I had rules… I had reasons, I had a path to walk... and I... I… I was an alone wolf in a pack full of wolves.

My heart was pounding in my chest as the realisation dawned on me. It was like the light had broken through all the whispering that was going on in my mind and around me. The air whipped around me, blowing my hair off my face, and pushed me onto a path I didn’t see coming.

My bare feet, started to move forward with intent. My eyes were locked on to the man who stood across the street looking back at a woman who was used to her life being a certain way.

“Every step of the way… every turn Embry Call… you have fought me… whenever I think I have nothing and no one to talk to, your stupid face showed up.” I knew that was childish, but I didn’t care.

“Everyone knows to stay away…. And here you stand, even after two punches… with no holding back…. Here you stand.”

My voice was even, it was together, I was taking slow and steady breaths now.

“And of all the things… of all the nights…. Of all the people….” I was crossed the street, my hair was down, my mind and eyes only saw him.

“You show up before me…” I was stood before him, my eyes searching his. I didn’t even know what for. I just knew that if I was going to follow the path of the spirits, he was a part of it.

I curled my fingers around his neck and brought him down towards me. I didn’t know how this would end, but this was the start.

My lips touched his and the wind engulfed us, pushing me closer into him as I slowly kissed him like I had never kissed another before.

↬ Embry Call ↫

The moment her feet started to move I knew that everything was about to change. Anyone would be expecting another blow… But not here. Not when the world was about to wake up any second now. The wind pushed me two steps closer to her. The heat of her hand on the back of my neck was an unexpected surprise. And the kiss… was everything and nothing like the first.

I closed my eyes because this could last for mere seconds before she came to her senses and slugged me again. When she didn’t stop; I leaned closer to her, my stomach twisted and leapt. My lips parted just slightly against her, and I lifted my hands to her cheeks one at a time like each touch would shatter the moment.

I didn’t think that I had ever kissed anyone like this before. Slow and gentle and thinking only of the feeling of her lips on mine. This was not a conquest, there was no claiming of a victory. Just a kiss with a purpose I didn't understand yet. I didn't even want to know right now.

But there were two things becoming crystal clear. One... I would kiss her again. If I survived after this one... And two. “There's no world where this could be a mistake.” I whispered the thought without meaning to. Still so close to her that my lips brushed against hers as they formed the words.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I wasn’t thinking, or was I? Was I recalling, thinking about where this was going to lead, what this all meant, or how would this play out? That is what I expected to happen. That was what I should have been doing.

But as his lips touched mine, and he kissed me back all those thoughts melted away. In the moment on this new morning, as the birds came to life, the light started to clear away the darkness, and as the spirits started to sing like I’d never heard them before.

I had taken the steps towards him, I had taken a hold of him, I had kissed Embry Call… And it felt right!

His hands touched my cheeks one at a time, and it didn’t make me stop. It should have broken me free from the dream state I was in, right? I should have pulled away and slogged him in the face again?

But no… there was a heat building in the depths of me, a flutter in my stomach that I couldn’t explain, warmth crawling its way up the sides of my neck that had never have before. and the question was trying to break through to ask me, 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?

His whispering against my lips was the thing that stopped my lips from moving over his.

“If this is a mistake… I don’t know what right feels like any more.” My eyes were still closed as those words slipped out.

I swallowed hard resting my forehead to his for a second before taking a step back and letting my hands slowly drop from his neck. The reality of where we stood hit hard.

I was a private person, who didn’t do these things for the world to see. Not this tribe anyway. They had lost the right to have visibility into my life.

Finally, I opened my eyes, and it wasn’t a dream, it wasn’t the land of the spirits, Embry Call was real and still stood before me…

“Still Real?”

Two more words that slipped out as I thought them.

↬ Embry Call ↫

My lips still hummed with electricity from the kiss. I swept my tongue over my lower lip and combined the feeling of her forehead against mine and the taste of her on them had my heart skipping a beat.

But her words made me open my eyes and there she was... The Leah from behind the walls was showing in her eyes again. “Still real.” I assured her with a smile. Just a slight lifting of the corners of my mouth... But Spirit’s! It was a real smile... Pulling at something much deeper than I was used to.

I let my hands fall away when she stepped back, and the world came into sharp focus again. “Ask me to come back inside, Leah.” It wasn’t phrased like a question, but my tone made it one. Her words in her hallway rushed back to me...

“No ulterior motives... I won’t even kiss you again unless you want me to... Hell I won’t even talk if you don’t want me too.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

There was a hum of something underlining my being. The way my lips could still feel him, the taste of him, the sound of that heart of his beating. All things I never questioned before, never paid much attention to. Those things in a blink of an eye started to show a sharp contrast to the rest of the world around me.

And then there was his question… was it a question or a request? He wanted me to ask him to come back, to come back into my home… My space…

Standing there in the street, my mind slowly started to come into focus once again, and I knew I should turn and run, that is what I did, I didn’t open my door for people in that way. And yet my feet were on solid ground, at the realisation of what he meant.

My words from earlier... what I had said to Embry about not being his bed warmer, I hadn’t meant it. Not deep in my heart. I’d seen the real Embry Call, and the man stood before me now, with the smile that was so small and still was unapologetically true.

“I… I shouldn’t have said what I did before…” I didn’t apologise, because in the moment it was a truth I didn’t want to bring to life.

And yet here we stood. The question still hanging in the space between us.

I took two steps back into the middle of the street, my mind fighting my heart. My soul fighting my head of reality, and what this all meant to us now. My eyes never once left his until I turned to cross the rest of the street. Slowly tilting my head to the side once I was on the path of my house.

“Are you coming?” It was a whisper, but it reached his ears.

“No ulterior motives, I won’t talk… Spirits... I won’t even punch you…”

I repeated his own words to him with a slight change, so it fit me.

I was doing this? Every step after the first kiss, he’d asked for permission. Made sure I was the one to make the decision, he understood what that meant to me.

Music: The First Kiss Playlist at the end of Story

↬ Embry Call ↫

I smiled and shook my head. “I know... Don't worry about it.” even though it hit harder than I expected at the time. I knew that she didn't mean it. And I really didn't blame her... I'd seen how guys thought they could treat Leah. Not that they ever walked away unscathed.

I followed her across the street and laughed, amused at the fact that she was barefoot in the middle of the street. This time I recognised the sound. I listened to her ramble and followed her inside, pushing her door closed behind me.

“Can I get that last part in writing?” I teased her.

I honestly had no idea where this was going or what any of this was. But the only thing that really, I knew absolute certainty was that I was in the right place.

But I had a feeling that Leah probably wasn't as okay with the unknowns that were happening here. “Is it too late for another drink? Or...” I laughed and glanced to the window. “Too early?”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I knew how this would go if I let my brain kick into action so instead, I called for my wolf asking her if she was there.

‘Here, but this is for you and him to work out.’ And then she turned around and went to sleep. She was never fully gone; she could hear and see everything. But we had an agreement and of course the times where we were mad at one another, we needed the space.

Glancing over my shoulder at him again. “My word means a lot more than a bit of paper.” And I was ten steps ahead of him. I was stood in my kitchen, opening the cabinet, and pulling out two fresh glasses, and then went to take out the two bottles of liquor.

“It’s not too early if you’ve not been to bed. It’s still the same night.” That was my story, and I was sticking to it. Because I most definitely needed a drink or five. “The real question is… do you want a double or should I just hand you a glass and the bottle?” Because I knew I was going to end up having one more.

Ten minutes ago, things had been very different to what had happened. And it dawned on me again... Embry Call kissed me... And I punched him…

“Do you need ice for the lip?” I asked looking over my own left hand once, the swelling was now visible.

↬ Embry Call ↫

She had a point... neither of us had slept a wink. but I wasn't going to apologise for that... because that would be like saying I was in the wrong place at the wrong time... but that was the furthest thing from the truth.

"A double is fine." I had completely forgotten the ache in my jaw until she mentioned it again. I pressed my tongue against the spot inside my cheek that had bled, it was practically healed, and the coppery taste was fading away.

"That probably is a good idea." I didn't need to explain to Quil why I been punched twice by another Spirit Warrior during the course of the night.

"How's your hand?" I asked her as she flexed her knuckles. "Never realised you were a southpaw." I chuckled. She really packed a hell of a left hook. "And fair warning... three is my limit... next time I'll hit back." That really was true... depending on the situation. But I would never need to defend myself from Leah... she'd never do any serious damage to me. Even if I deserved it.

I couldn't stop watching her now... all the things about her that caught my eyes in the past were now clear as day all the time, not just in those rare unguarded moments.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Unscrewing the bottle cap I poured a free-handed double, before reaching out and handing it over. Then I stepped around him to walk to the freezer, pulling my hair out of the way and then back up into a messy bun.

I went to grab a couple of sandwich bags. “It’s a good thing I always keep ice in stock at home as well as at the bar.” I pressed my fingers into my left hand, the smarting was all but gone, the swelling would take a little longer. “I’ll live to fight another day.” Opening the bag of ice, I half filled the two bags. Stopping for a second before continuing.

“Southpaw…” There was a word I hadn’t heard since the Cullen’s had left. “Hmm… It was something Emmett pushed me on. He said it was up to us to strengthen our weaknesses. And for a right hander, it’s always the left. Make the left as strong or better, the other guy won’t know what hit him.” I turned to look at him for the first time, and my stomach did that twisting thing. What was that about?

“I wouldn’t expect anything less. It’s a little telling that you need more training time. Two punches and I had you hit the ground without a stop. You need to work on that.” My eyes searched his face, looking for marks I must have left. The swelling was still visible, and I felt something in my chest knowing that I was the one to do it. ( Which was a new feeling too. )

↬ Embry Call ↫

I would have teased her any other night by asking her did she really come that often with swollen knuckles, but Seattle had been on my mind tonight and I wonder if the same was true for her. "Thanks." I took the glass.

I tilted my head at her observation... "Do I?" I asked and it wasn't rhetorical. "The reason I didn't hit back wasn't because I was off guard or too slow, Leah." I took one of the bags of ice from her and pressed it to the side of my face that was probably a little swollen and bruised... but not for long. "It was because I didn't need to. You weren't going to hurt me... at least not anything that would last more than an hour. and I did knock you off your feet." I added.

She had to know that... "I don't need to defend myself from you, Leah."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Once he took that bag from my hand, I walked back to close the door of the freezer and then went to pour myself a double, but this time it was the bourbon. He was talking to me as I worked around the kitchen.

“You did…” I agreed. I wasn’t in the habit of lying, and he had taken me off my feet. But I wasn’t in the mood to tell him that it wouldn’t have been as easy if my mind wasn’t reeling with the action I’d just taken. And the reason for that action… It had nothing to do with him. “It doesn’t mean that you give up on training yourself to be better.” It was a given, the better you became the more you needed to do to keep it up.

“Why are you always so certain that I won’t hurt you?” Picking the bag of ice up, with my glass I was walking back towards the living room to sit back down on my couch. We had some how ended up right where we started. On my couch with something to cool down the swelling. Spirits. How had tonight even come to pass?

↬ Embry Call ↫

My brow raised again... That question had to be rhetorical, right? “Well, first of all... We weren’t training. Second, sometimes choosing not to fight back 𝕚𝕤 the better option. And third... I don't really understand the question.”

I pulled the ice pack away to take a sip from the glass. “There is no 𝕨𝕙𝕪 I just know you were not... The same way you know I wouldn't hurt you. You might have forgotten that for a split second once or twice tonight... But most of the time, you know.”

She did know, didn't she?

I followed her to the living room and sat on the couch. I didn't need a reason to trust her. I just did... I mean if she wanted reasons, I could list plenty, but none of them would be 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕟, there was no singular or collective reason... It was just the way I felt.

My eyes only left her as we walked in here.

“Unless I was... For whatever reason endanger the tribe or a human... You wouldn't hurt me. Any of us really... And even then, only if you had no other options.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Taking a sip from the glass I set it down on the table before me. My elbows on my knees as I leant over placing the bag of ice over my knuckles. A sense of ease washed over my hand, and I took a beat before turning my head to look back at him as he joined me again on the couch.

I took a few deep breaths, thinking of his answer. It was a roundabout way of saying that it was trust. Trust and knowing at the end of the day, his Beta wouldn’t harm him or the others in the pack. I slipped the ice bag around looking back at it. Allowing my mind, the time to adjust to everything.

I could still feel his hands on me, and how they were the same temperature as my skin. His lips on mine… Spirits that was real!

“So, it’s about trusting your Beta, right? Knowing that she would do right by you and all the pack?”

Where was I going with this? For once I didn’t know. The words were coming because this was a curve ball I didn’t see coming. I was trying to Understand how I didn’t know, how I don’t see it.

“Why did you kiss me?” There... it was said... the elephant in the room was being addressed.

↬ Embry Call ↫

There it was again... the one thing that she kept coming back to. That she was the Beta. "Of course, I know that." I watched her ice her knuckles. the way she slipped in and out of deep thoughts.

"But that's not what I meant. I trust the girl I grew up with... that called us in our bullshit... let us get into all sorts of trouble and stopped us getting into too much trouble... And the woman she grew up to be wouldn't hurt me."

All of that was the answer to her next question too... and none of it was at the same time.

"Because... things have been changing Leah, between the two of us. That has been clear for a very long time, but I really didn't know why." I took a breath... I was normally pretty good with words... but finding the right words for this were. "When I was leaving here... I just..." I set the glass down and dragged my hand through my hair. "It all seemed really clear, I knew that I would regret it if I didn't turn back. Then when I did..." I huffed a laugh and rubbed my jaw. "Maybe not the best approach... but I knew I was right."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My lips worked, biting the inside of my cheeks as I let what he was telling me settle, letting those words breathe and sink in.

I didn’t speak right away because there was so much there to unpack. Because he did it again, he made a point to clarify the difference between the Beta who was born to protect them all, and the woman who sat here with swollen knuckles.

Turning my attention to him again, the ice bag somehow grounding me in the now.

But the words weren’t there. “Spirits…” I closed my eyes before looking over to him. That weight on my chest had lifted. There were so many questions. The first… why had I gone to him? Why had I kissed him?

‘Because you know it felt right?’ The voice wasn’t of my wolf, this was a voice of wisdom, I knew if she were here, she would smack me up the side of my head.

“So much has changed… I just… I didn’t know how… or why…”

Nodding towards his face. “And I’m not apologising for that one. You deserved it.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I wanted to ask her questions too... Why did she tell me to go? Why did it hurt her to watch me leave?

I nodded. "I hate to admit it but you're not wrong... I just got myself caught up with all those thoughts in my head... I have a habit of leaping without thinking."

And wasn't that why I had come here in the first place? Because that was a weakness of mine an i was worried I might act without thinking and regret losing something important to me? "I think I used my quota of sensible decisions asking you to hold onto the guitar for me. But at the same time... If I'd let you know what I was thinking you never would have let me get close enough... and then you never would have felt..." I remembered the kiss.

The heat, and the stillness and the way my entire body woke up.

"What happened to you?" I asked quietly. I dropped my eyes from hers, it was hard to picture that look on her face. "In the door way... What was that?"

I knew I couldn't ask her why she'd kissed me... why she'd come after me? Because it would put her into a tailspin and the walls will come up again.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My head tilted in agreement; we all knew this about Embry. It wasn’t a bad thing, well not always. But sometimes I wished he slowed down, took the time to think through the repercussions of his actions. Then again, most people knew that when it came to him, nothing was done in malice. He only ever wanted the best for people.

Lifting the glass from the table I took two hard sips. Letting the liquor work it’s way down into my stomach. Now some part of me wishing I’d taken out the bottle of moonshine. But I hadn’t touched that stuff since Seattle.

Setting the glass down on the table again, I turned the bag of now melting ice once again. “That’s a loaded question.” I whispered right back. Dropping my head back into the couch I closed my eyes thinking how or if I wanted to tell him.

“I was disobeying the Spirits… I wasn’t taking the path they were trying to show me… And that was them showing me how the loss of the path would play out. What it would do to me… to you… That… was them making me feel what you were feeling.” Which was why I knew, why I had to find out for myself.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I wasn't sure what to think about that word ‘𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘’. Did that mean she hadn't chosen to follow me?

“That seems like an extreme to get a message across...” I watched her lean back. It couldn't be that. The way she’d lit up when she’d kissed me outside. Her hand on the back of my neck pulling me down to her and kissing me without any hesitation. She was searching too... For that feeling, my heart skipped again remembering it. Even now... When I was pretty sure that she was as confused and thrown as I was there was a spark of excitement that only dimmed when I thought about her standing in the doorway.

“You choose your own path Leah... They can lay them out for us, they can guide us. But ultimately, we choose. Otherwise, I never would have wound up in that parking lot...” I remembered the story I told her in Seattle. “You never would have wound up in that ring. We both taken paths that felt wrong. I could have kept walking... I decided not to... That whatever this pull is that keeps bringing me to you was too good to walk away from. When we’re to--” I stopped before I said together because it intoned expectations that I didn't have. It also implied that it was only true when we were alone... But that wasn't it either.

“Lately, when we're both in the same place, I feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be. Like at the bar tonight... Or, when you walked in to mom’s house when I was playing the piano; it was something I kept to myself. But I was relieved... Like I had wanted to tell you all along. Just you... But I didn't even know it until it happened.” The same was true about the bills.

“I don't want them to make you feel bad because of me... And the worst thing I was feeling when I left was that I didn't want you to think that it didn't mean anything.“

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I knew that I wasn’t explaining it right. I wasn’t able to use my words the way he did. Images my mind had created about the day in the parking lot from the story he told me came flowing in my head, and then the ring and me standing in it. The look on his face and the men that were holding him back. It was making my chest heavy again.

I was speechless looking over at him. “How do you do that? Just say what you are feeling and thinking?” It wasn’t trait I learnt in my life time walking on this earth. He had rattled it all off, things I had no idea about, or I hadn’t understood. But some of it, it sang true. The day I’d stepped into Ms C’s home with the extra key wasn’t normal. It wasn’t something I did. I wasn’t meant to be there, but the spirits had set that path to bring me to Embry at the right time for me to see him in a new light.

The night in Seattle when he was in the ballroom alone playing. Once again, I wasn’t meant to be there, and yet I saw him in a moment where he was lost in himself. Every image and memory the Spirits had shown me when I wouldn’t stop him from leaving this morning… out of… I wasn’t even sure why… But they all were times where our paths were brought together.

“I’ve always made my own choices and decisions Call… They have never pushed me to do anything I didn’t want…” Spirits I was the one that had always made it hard on them. “But… that…” I pointed to the door. How was I explaining this so wrong? “The only thing they asked me to do… was to stop you…”

And the light bulb in my mind went on. “Because they know me… If I had closed that door… I’d find a reason not to answer… what… this…” I placed my hand on my chest. “is…” Swallowing as it dawned on me. If I closed that door, I’d have never stepped on this path. My eyes found his. “I don’t feel bad because of you… It’s me trying to protect you.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I gave her a long honest look. "There were a lot of things I had to hide for a long time... I hated it. It felt so wrong... so I just started laying out everything else and I tried to convince myself that it made for the rest." I never had managed to convince myself it was true.

"It's easy for some people... and hard or impossible for others. But one isn't better or worse than the other... it's just how the world works."

Relief flooded in when she said it had all been her, I had already swooped in and kissed her without so much as a hint that things were headed that way...

"I know..." I couldn't help but smile. "That was why I didn't close it when I left. I knew if I did... that it would stop there, and we might never know that all of this was meant to be." I took the ice away from my jaw. "I really wasn't ready to walk away." It was an insane thing for me to say... but there it was, unfiltered truth. And it wasn't even difficult to say.

"But it would have been okay... I can't promise things would be the same... but I wouldn't hold anything against you. Just because it felt right to me doesn't mean that you had to feel the same way. I don't need to be protected from you Leah... I definitely don't want to be protected from this.”

I took in a long breath and shifted up the couch towards her. My eyes dropping to the hand she'd struck me with twice. I almost reached out and just took her, but I stopped. I held out my hand, palm up to her. "Come on, then." I smiled at her.

"Let's see the damage?"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Once again there it was, he believed in laying it all out for people to see. Whereas I believed in a private life. The world came to their own conclusions time and time again, it wasn’t my responsibility to correct them or bring them into my life. And yet it was his way to do what I had been doing all along. Keeping them out of the things he didn’t want them to see.

“A game of mirrors.” I muttered to myself. Make someone feel like they are witnessing something, while all along you are hiding what is really happening.

“You… knew?” Confusion dancing in my eyes, until his smile was back. The one that touched his eyes and showed the purest side of him. But he knew? He knew if I closed that door, that was it.

“When are you ever ready to walk away?” I wasn’t mocking him; it was a fact. Embry Call didn’t walk away from the pa— From the people he cared for.

I shook my head because this was something we both should know about the other. “I know this Call. I may have kicked your arse; I may have made you pay for it. But I wouldn’t have held it over your head. And I know you wouldn’t too.” Which is why I’d asked him to go.

“You… even after everything you’ve managed to see these last few weeks doesn’t show you that you need to be protected from me?” Had he not understood it all?

“I needed to know… to understand. Were we just swept up in something and confused by everything? Or…” I may have thought it before, but that had been the reason I had to stop my mind, stop the thinking ahead, and see what it was. “I’m not saying I have all the answers. Far from it.”

He slipped up the couch towards me and I stilled, reminding myself not to react, to push the past back and to listen to him.

Raising my eyebrows, I glanced at his outstretched hand. This was once again one of those things that played on my mind. How he always held his hand out. Asking me to believe in him.

Moving the bag from the top, I played with trying to move my fingers. “It’s okay,” I tested them a few times, thinking about his hand, and how he wanted me to place mine in it. Slowly I lifted my hand slightly, placing my it over his. “Trust me, I’ve had worse. I’ll be fine soon enough.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

“Yeah... Sometimes there are things that you just know are final.” It wasn't just because of Leah either. I wasn't known for revisiting the past either. But those people weren't a part of my life.

Leah was. And her part in mine... Was getting larger by the day. As mine was in hers. Raised my hand until it met hers; palm-to-palm. The fingers of my other hand brushed lightly over the preceding swelling. “It will be like it never happened in no time at all.” I whispered like she had with her comment about mirrors. My hand moved up her arm. My gaze fixed on its slow progress the heat reminding me of her fingers tracing the wolves in my tattoo the evening we fixed her door.

“Spirit’s... You're so warm.” I gave a disbelieving chuckle; it was so strange to touch someone that wasn't cooler than my own body.

Smiling eyes met her, and my teeth pulled on my bottom lip. My hand reached her shoulder, and I trailed my touch towards the base of her throat. Just daring to brush my fingers against the soft skin of her throat. My heart sped up... It was compelling, how could just touching an arm fill me with electricity that was bursting to be set free.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I found myself watching him, really watching. The way he bit his lip, once had me rolling my eyes, and now it set a roiling in the pit of my stomach. But now I saw the things that I hadn’t even thought to look for.

He had always been one of those kids who was around, following, showing up and then all our lives changed. We all grew up, all on the same path, and still on individual lines for us to walk towards together.

How I’d never seen it before I didn’t know. But this here had been a path the Spirits guided us towards for a while now? And yet, each step of the way. It had been a choice we had been making to bring us here.

My brown eyes flickered to our hands now, following how his came up to mine. Something connected at the moment our palms touched. A hum on the air told a story, one I knew somehow would only grow if we let it.

I heard Embry, and knew those words weren’t for me. But my heart reacted because I knew that the proof of my actions may leave no marks, but what I did to him tonight would still sit in my bucket of sins. I’d let my guard and walls cause him pain.

“You are warm too.” I swallowed hard. I knew this. But… “Not cool to the touch at all.” Something in my stomach awoke. And I wasn’t sure what it could be. My eyes followed his fingers, he didn’t feel cool. My body didn’t react in the way it did when I touched others.

We both were the same.

I glanced up at him again to find his eyes on me already. That heat I felt growing up the sides of my neck when I kissed him, had started to crawl its way towards my face again seeing him biting his lip.

My breathing stopped as his finger traced their way to my throat, I stilled letting it all sink in. My mind had stopped too, the only way I knew I wouldn’t run from this, from him. And then I heard his heart. Opening my eyes to watch him again.

“Embry…”

My voice was a low whisper as his name slips from my lips. He had to know I could hear his heart.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I heard the changes in her heart and the way she held her breath when my hand moved.

The way she said my name made my stomach do that leaping thing again.

I swallowed hard and leaned into her again, almost nose to nose with her. My hand moved and I brushed my thumb along her jaw before resting my palm on her cheek. The heat was incredible, so unexpected. I took a long deep breath. How had I never noticed how good she smelled before now? The feeling of it washing over me made me close my eyes. “You smell amazing, too.” speaking the words intentionally this time.

I slipped my hand back and my fingertips brushed against her hair, I stopped. I knew how she was about her hair.

I shifted closer to her on the couch again. My breath catching my throat and moved closer to her lips, giving her every hint that I was going to kiss her again. And plenty of time to stop me if she wanted to.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I was frozen in my spot, of all the thing I could say, could feel, could react to. It was how it felt to be close to him that had me lost.

This wasn’t the first time we were close. We trained, we played, spirits he grabbed me and threw me off the cliff not so long ago. But right now, sat here beside him. The way his hand slipped up caressing my skin…

All thought stopped when I felt my hair move. My hand fisted a little but then it eased. That dread I felt when anyone touched my hair was something I expected to feel. But that sensation didn’t come. It wasn’t there, at all.

He left a line of fire over my jaw, astonished at how no other had been able to touch me the way I was letting him. Did that come from trust? It had too.

He took a deep breath like he was inhaling the moment, and I knew… I knew that this time he was asking, giving me time to run, to stop him. But I didn’t want to. I was feeling a pull towards him just as he was towards me.

My eyes found themselves looking at his lips until he spoke. I smelt amazing? That wasn’t something you heard from someone you knew all your life. What was I meant to even say? So, I said nothing and continued to watch him. The anticipation building in the pit of my stomach.

My couch moved beneath us and that’s when I felt his heat. My hands resting on his chest, I tilted my head. Our lips just inches from each other.

“I promise… not to punch you.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

She wasn't pulling back or pushing me away. I wasn't ever someone that held back like this... The only thing I wanted more than to kiss her right now was for her to want me to.

It had been a long time since I needed to wonder if a girl wanted me to kiss her or not... people were generally easy to read. But Leah... she was written in a whole different language. The corners of my mouth quirked up when she spoke but only for a second until I brought my mouth down on her.

I heard the low hum rumble in my chest, the release of the anticipation and the overwhelming sensation on my stomach. I pushed down the animal instinct to pull her closer, there was something more here, something that would pass us by if we didn't see it through. The kiss was light and long, and breath-taking.

I lean in further; breaking the contact only to take steadying breaths, and when I kissed her again my lips moved against hers the way she'd kissed me outside. That same feeling of the world falling away swept in and I let it. My other hand lifted to her shoulder, and I slid my hand into her hair like the worries of her reaction to it had never entered my mind.

I parted her lips with mine and another new sound filled me when I felt the heat of her breath on my lips. The wild instincts swelled up again, but I wasn’t here to try and claim her, all I wanted was this kiss, I expected nothing beyond this moment. It was new... my heart thumped wildly in my chest.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The moment his lips touched mine the world around me melted away. The hum of the spirits was gone, like him being this close to me had closed the doors on them. Asking them to give us a second to see this through.

My heart stopped for a count before restarting again. And I tried to stop myself thinking ten steps ahead. He always talked about being in the moment, and I rolled my eyes at it. And now, I was trying to be here in the moment.

My fingers curled and fisted up the front of his shirt, and I leant into him a little. I didn’t move into him completely because something told me that this here, and now wasn’t like the others. He wasn’t like the others.

My lips stopped when his hands were in my hair. But I did as I promised… I didn’t punch him. Because like before, his touch brought with it a calm and not a madness. There was a swell of sensations growing and perking their head up. My stomach, the hum over my skin, the tingle over my lips. All feeding this pull towards him.

I fought to catch my breath when he pulled away, and then he was back again. My lips fell open and my tongue entwined itself around him and for the first time, I really tasted him.

My hand flattened over his chest, telling him I was listening to the sound of his unspoken words.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I heard her heart change rhythm, felt her hands gripped the front of my shirt. It was like gravity was shifting us closer together... but everything... every single thing she did told me that she wanted me to kiss her.

Leah Clearwater wanted to be kissed... by me? What in the name of the Spirit's was happening here? A question I couldn't answer yet, but I didn't care I just trusted that those answers would come in due time.

A low moan left my lips when I tasted her tongue against mine. My fingers were still combed into her hair, my hand resting easily on the back of her neck the other moved down her arm and then slipped around her waist. My finger bunching up the back of her shirt now.

I had kissed a lot of people... but now... I couldn't understand what had been appealing about it. This felt like nothing else I had ever experienced. Not even in the minds of the other guys. My chest was rising and falling faster, and my head was swimming in the most incredible way. I didn't pull her against me, but I did pull her closer, something in my mind telling me there would be time for all of that later.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The hum in the air began to flow over my skin. My bare arms started to feel small bumps growing over them. I knew what they were, but I’d never had them in years. Goosebumps? I was kissing someone... no... not someone... I was kissing Embry Call, and I wasn’t questioning it. Because I knew if I started to question this now, there was a likely chance that my walls would go back up.

My hands moved up over his shoulders, slipping over his neck feeling the warm skin that was the same as mine. And then they were in his hair. His Hair… I was holding Embry Call close, kissing him and he was kissing me back… Tilting my head to the side a little I deepened the kiss, and then in need of a breath I pulled back resting my forehead against his.

Closing my eyes, my chest rising and falling to the beat of his heart, I kept my eyes closed trying to pull some words together.

“What are you doing to me?” Of all the things, I found it best to say what you were thinking. And the pounding in my chest wasn’t a reaction I was used to having.

↬ Embry Call ↫

This was like the most vivid dream I had ever had. But how could I dream something I had never felt before?

The way it felt to have her lips against mine, the taste and scent and feel of her overtaking all of my senses. Then her hands started to move set trails of fire in their wake. Her fingers were in my hair and shivers bolted down my spine. Spirits! Mine were hers and I was still breathing!

There was no way I could dream what I felt like to share each breath with her. It was happening.

My heart felt like it could punch through my chest when she deepened the kiss. When she lay her forehead against mine, I kept my eyes shut, my hand slipped back to her cheek... I never touched a woman like that before, I never wanted to. But with her it just seemed like the most natural thing to do.

Her heart was pounding as hard as mine. "I have no idea." I whispered breathlessly, my forehead touched to hers and now I did pull her closer, gently.

"But... What it is... is amazing?"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“Amazing?” Of all the things, something amazing coming out of the way this night had gone was surprising.

He sounded like Embry, and not all at the same time. Again, it was hard to put into words, but something was different in the way his word sounded to my ear.

My eyes fluttered open when my body moved closer into him, he had moved me… I never let that happen, or more so it wasn’t something men could do. When I dug in, there was no moving me.

And it was another thing I hadn’t thought of. “I can’t break you…” it was low, a whisper for only our ears.

I hadn’t tried to break him, but the fact that he was still sat here. And for once I hadn’t had to worry about holding him too tight, of pushing him too hard.

My mind was clearly all over the place, so unlike me. With the way it darted around from place to place.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I couldn't help smiling when she echoed the word back to me. Her voice was breathy, I hadn't heard her like this before. The closer she moved, the deeper the feeling of belonging got. And then her words opened up a whole new to me.

She wasn't fragile... I could hurt her. Not unless I set out to and that wasn't going to happen. I didn't need to check myself with her or worry about causing her pain accidentally. I flattened my hand against her back and moved it up. Feeling the heat and the defined muscles there.

Now it was my turn to echo her words back. “I can’t break you...” and voicing the thought seemed to break a dam somewhere inside.

“Really... Don’t kill me this time,” I whispered and then I pulled her against me. The heat of her and the feel of her against me woke up my whole body. My hand slipped to the back of her neck, and I kissed her harder than before.

I hadn’t taken hold of her like this before because all I’d wanted to do was follow this feeling to be close to and let whatever this feeling was to take hold.

I didn't want to claim her, or paw at her the way I was sure had happened to her too often in the past. But this... This was different this was exploring a new possibility with her.

I groaned softly into the kiss, tasting her tongue again and holding her tightly against me. Not painfully tight, just allowing my body to give into the natural instincts it had in a moment like this. It was freeing in a whole new way I never thought of before. And the fact it was Leah... My stomach rioted. Even if it might earn me another punch.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

He understood, of course he understood what I meant without the need of explanation. It was something we all had to learn, to have drilled into our minds. Our strength, our hardness, our need to have more than others, the drive to let go in a world of fragile beings… but this… him... me… here and now…

“Spirits.” It had never occurred to me.

My eyes searched his once again. Now I knew when he asked me not to kill him, he was about to do something that would make me want too… My mind flamed to life when his hands took a hold and he grabbed me. The instinct to fight back was rampant to the point I had to snap my teeth to stop the reaction taking life.

His lips crushed mine as he pulled me into him. My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him too. And this time, it wasn’t the slow tentative touches from before.

The pit of my stomach twisted to the point that I could feel a fire starting to come to life. The kisses before were tender, searching and filled with so much that was unspoken. But this… it was testing, understanding, and freeing all at once.

His tongue danced with mine, and I knew that we shouldn’t know how to do this, and yet that unspoken belonging and peace that came from being this close to him. Made it so that we just knew.

↬ Embry Call ↫

My heart pounded when her strong arms pulled me into her too. Spirit’s! My head swam… heat pulsed through me I softened my hold and my mouth against her, that curiosity satisfied… the prevailing need was still that searching and exploring everything that this was doing to me…

She had to feel this too.

The kiss slowed but stayed heated and deep. When it, stopped took a deep breath and pressed my lips to hers again… and again. My hand on her cheek moved up along her jaw. I wanted to kiss my way along her jaw but restrain the urge. “Wow!” The breathy word slipped out before I knew.

“Still real?” I was asking myself… her… the universe in general.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

It was like a switch had been flipped, the growth of that need to learn, to see , to feel was like a fire that spread over the top of water. It was burning hot and yet if you stayed under the water beneath, there was safety.

But was there safety in this? How did I still feel like there was. Like this was the right place for me?

His kissing slowed, mine mirroring him. My lungs burning like the rest of me as I finally took in deep breaths. His hands weren’t holding me as tightly, and mine were in his hair again. The kisses he placed on my lips were gentle, softer, and still it fed that fire in me.

I didn’t hear him at first. The pounding from our hearts had been like drums that had found their rhythms together. But when his words sunk in. I slowly pulled back. Coming back to reality.

“Still real.” I didn’t dream, so he had to be real. This has to be real. And it occurred to me.

“That move should have cost you your hands… It’s a good thing, I’m a woman of my word.” I’d promised not to punch him when he stepped back into my home.

↬ Embry Call ↫

The way her was beating in time with mine... it shouldn't be possible. I chuckled softly at her comment.

"I know..." My thumb swept along her jaw again. Her skin was so soft and yet I knew the strength that was beneath it. I had kissed Leah... I had pulled her body into mine and not been punched or laid out for it. "But it was partially your fault... you did point out that we can't break each other. And we all know my reputation for self-control."

My hand moved down the side of her neck and I smiled.

"How can something feel so delicate... and belong to the strongest person you know?"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Pulling back my eyebrow raised. He was saying 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 a lot tonight/ this morning..? Whatever time of day it was.

“You know and you still dared to go through with it? Do you have a death wish?” It’s the only reason I could contemplate for his actions.

My eyes closed, his hand on my neck sent that hum of energy shooting down me, and again I held my breath. This was astonishing, he was the first guy to touch me, where the coolness of his hand didn’t hit me first.

I didn’t need to gear myself up for it or remind myself not to react to it.

“Wait…” I pulled back a little. “Did you just call me delicate? Because you know I could kill you for spending such rumours about me.”

But I knew what he meant; my hands slipped back down to his chest. He was fit, muscular, well put together. And yet there was this gentle side to his too.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"I'm starting to think I just might." I teased with another small laugh. "Just... curious." I licked my bottom lip and fixed my dark gaze on hers. I felt her go still when she held her breath.

Was it me that was making her feeling like this? I swallowed hard when she pulled back... knowing only too well what she was capable of, but I smiled. She was a woman of her word, like she had said.

"That's not exactly what I said." I whispered... lowering my voice as I dipped my head into the crook of her neck and ran the tip of my nose up along her throat. My mouth went dry. Fuck!! How did something that make every cell in my body vibrate? "Your skin... feel...s soft, almost delicate... but you..." I pressed a kiss to her throat. "Are any but... it’s a paradox." I kissed her again, feeling her pulse beating below my lips and a groan left my chest.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

What was wrong with me? How was I letting myself react to every touch from him, when I didn’t from anyone else?

My gaze remained on him, and I knew I wasn’t going to say that line about Curiosity killed the cat, because we were anything but. I had been the same way, the question had just arose in my mind, I said the words, and he was the one to step up to test it.

When he leant into me again, that twist in my stomach tightened, making sure that the fire in the depths of my stomach was still alight. My throat bobbed and my breathing caught again, making me chastise myself. I had to get a grip here.

But this, with him. It wasn’t the same.

My hands slipped up, one curled into his hair and the other resting on his back.

“That’s something that has always been me.” Even his voice was causing my body and heart to react. “It’s just how I am made, and—“

The kiss to my throat made me lose my train of thought.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Her fingers were in my hair again and I felt a shiver wind its way down my spine. She was so close that I knew she would feel what it did to me, and I wanted her to. I wanted her to hear the erratic sound of my heart as my lips and tongue explored the places that made hers erratic too.

“The Spirits broke the mould when they made you, Leah.” I kissed her again deeper and with more need. My lips closed over the spot where I felt her pulse. Careful not the leave any marks on her... not that it would last long enough to be seen. I had no desire to leave a mark on her, I wasn't laying a claim. I was opening myself up to her laying everything bare.

So was she, in her own tentative way. That was the only reason I was still here. “I knew there had to be a reason our paths were linked lately.” I kissed her jaw and worked my way towards her ear. “I've never felt anything else like this before,” I whisper and moved my hand over her clothes to rest above her heart.

I want to ask her if she had... But I knew that she would show me her answer her own way. It was like she was a sheet of music and I had suddenly learnt how to read her.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes flickered to the ceiling, I had to bite down on the inside of my cheeks to stop the sound building its way up, looking for escape. I wasn’t one of those women who made those sounds. I wasn’t into feeding a man’s ego. He should know where he stood without the need to have me show him.

But that was me being stubborn? Was it? Just because I’d not felt the need to let go before, was I trying to prove something to myself now?

I could feel his reactions here because he wasn’t hiding them from me.

“Paths..?” I brought my mind back to his words. My head falling to the side without thinking about the action. His lips, kisses, the closeness was making it difficult to think. The way my body started to melt into him, letting him know he was on the right path now.

I gasped as his attention fell on that sweet spot on my throat that sent electrical bolts all the way to the depths of my core.

“Paths... hmm…” I pulled back and jumped up from the couch holding my hand outstretched towards him.

“You’re… this… I can’t think…” and I was used to thinking no matter the situation. I was always in control of my wits.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Her body seemed to ease against mine, and it was incredible... It was Leah, and she was letting go of that constant self-control.

It didn't last long, but the moment had been engraved on my memory. It was stunning how I had been holding on to her tight but... When she jumped back, my muscles instantaneously reacted and let her slip away without any resistance. But I immediately felt the loss of her warmth.

I cleared my throat and dragged my hand through my hair. “You’re not the only one.” I have a breathy chuckle... The closeness had left its mark on me too.

But get to say it was entirely different for me to. She was a planner... She thought through everything. “Okay.” I reached out and took her hand. “So, let’s... Just sit then.” my gaze locked on hers and I pulled lightly on her hand, so she knew I wanted her to sit next to me... But not trying to move her. “And think.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes darted to the hallway, the windows and then back to him when he reached out and somehow my fingers curled their way around his.

I was searching for my wolf; she was still radio silence. And I knew she told me I had to do this alone. But she’d never been this closed for this long.

I swallowed down the sensation of… well… something, I wasn’t sure what it was. I wanted to be close to him, and run, and kiss him, and punch him for making me feel all these things.

I rubbed my free hand over my forehead trying to clear my thoughts when he lightly tugged on my hand. And when I looked down at him, it was his deep brown eyes that took a hold. It felt like I was meant to be there, lost in them. I was myself with those eyes, because somehow those eyes had seen passed the walls.

“Hmm…” I stood there for a while before daring to step forward and take my seat next to him again.

“Thinking… thinking is good. Thinking of the path… we were set… you… me… the evolution… you know about that… I know about that.”

This was the first time in my life I was saying what I was thinking, and I didn’t like it, so I clapped my mouth shut.

↬ Embry Call ↫

She was flustered and I knew it shouldn't but made me smile.

But she sat down and fell silent I stopped. I knew that this was having a deep effect on her... She prided herself on having the answers or finding them when she didn't have them.

I let go of her hand, but I didn't move away from her. “Leah... There's just the two of us here. We didn't need to figure this out right now. We can just...” I paused this really wasn't my strong suit... I wasn’t exactly known for being a deep thinker. “Take it one step at a time. And you can ask me anything.” that I could do for her... “I can't promise you the right answer, but I can try.”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

When Embry let go of my head, I freed me to reaching out and pick up the glass of bourbon. Downing it in one, before I even dared to think about all this again.

“One step at a time, doesn’t give me my planning Embry.” I set the now empty glass back down before turning to face him.

It wasn’t a mistake to look at him, but it was so distracting. My eyes slipped to his lips, thinking about where they had been only seconds ago. I shook my head and then looked down to his hands. And those had been in my hair. He’d had his hands in my hair and he was still alive.

“I’m not sure there are any right or wrong answers.” This made me scoff as soon as I said it. “The Great Wolf would be so proud.” I muttered.

It was one of his lessons. ‘Don’t look for the answers, let them come to you.’

↬ Embry Call ↫

"Planning..." I repeated. Another thing I never did often. But I agree with her about there not being any right or wrong answer.

"Leah.." I said with a smile... "I'm not sure the great life concerns himself with things like this." Her eyes were on mine again and my heart stuttered. "I mean the big question here... is... what do you want to do with all of this? We can keep walking this path and see what happens... but if that isn't what you want then..." I paused and tried to think straight but with her eyes on mine. I got lost too easily.

"Those are two very different conversations." I knew what I wanted the do... walking away earlier tonight was hard. even though I knew it was what she wanted but I couldn't be selfish right now when she seemed to be so deeply rattled.

"But either way Leah... Everything will be okay."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My mind stopped again when his heart did that thing again. I was nowhere near him; we weren’t doing anything, and his heart still shuttered a little?

I rubbed my forehead again while I listened, he was really talking sense. But when did that happen? “When did you start speaking this way?” I’d noticed it in Seattle. He was thinking more than he was letting on.

“Two paths? There are so many more than just two paths Call.” But which one did I want? My hand flinched remembering what that feeling was when I hadn’t stopped him. Even when the Spirits had told me how to stop that pain, I thought I was doing the right thing for him.

“Call...” I took a step towards him and then stopped. “Do you still think that this… wasn’t something I wanted to do?” He’d said it a couple of times now, and I wouldn’t blame him if he was looking to run.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I knew she was right... but there was no way to cover every potential outcome. "I know Leah... this isn't going to be simple no matter what, but why jump ten steps when we are only just taking the first one." I knew I wasn't explaining this right... but if she let every potential scenario in she would spiral.

"No... maybe that thought entered my head for a moment... but I know that you make your own choices no matter what." I looked up at her again.

"And you certainly wouldn't lie when you told the same thing. But just because you wanted to... that doesn't mean you have to want it again. This is me and you... neither have all that much experience with the /After/ part of things. So... doesn't that make the biggest question whether or not this is something that you want again?"

She owed me nothing... I mean... I had crossed a few too many lines tonight. And I knew I shouldn't be putting this all on her shoulders, but I knew in my gut that I did want it. I wanted to see where it led. And I knew that good or bad It was something we could handle... we were probably the only two in the pack that could. Because we knew what the priorities were.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My mind was thinking about a million outcomes. He was right of course but hearing it coming from his lips made it real. And I’d hit hard. What were we thinking?

𝘕𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 /𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳/ 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘚𝘰... 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯?

“That’s… that is why I said you needed to be protected.” I swallowed taking a few steps back from him. Giving him the distance, he clearly needed. Turning away I stepped into the open window, my eyes trained on the new day, one that brought so many questions with it.

“We’ve both never done any of this. Do we even know how…” it was a whispered question on the air. Closing my eyes I let my elbows rest on the windowsill.

Did I feel something I couldn’t explain to anyone when he was around... Yes. Did it make it right for me to be stood here and act upon it? I didn’t know.

Those words that had become my reason for being me, were playing in my mind over and over again.

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦.

This wasn’t sacrificing, this was hoping for more. Did I even have the right to want that?

↬ Embry Call ↫

“Don’t do that Leah.” I stayed where I was, but my body was buzzing with the want to close the space she made between us. “I don't need to be protected any more than you do... And more importantly, I don't want to be.”

Spirits! I really wanted this... I wanted to do this with her. “All we need to know is how we feel.” I couldn't stay sitting still so I stood up and poured a healthy measure of the bourbon into my empty glass and knocked it back. I moved around the coffee table, just to try and sate the urge to be closer to her.

“Just be... Selfish for one minute. What do you want to do right now?” I chuckled at my own words. That was like asking the sun not to rise. “You don't have to say out loud, just think about it. Not tomorrow or a week from now. What do you want right now?”

I thought about the same thing, and my stomach did that the same thing again. My fingers tracing the contours of her lips, learning the details of her face and then... I shook my head. I had to stop and let her take the lead here.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I could hear his feet moving behind me, and from the sounds I could tell where he was and what was happening without needed to turn. I let my head drop a little between my arms with my eye remaining closed to the world.

He was asking me to not be me, okay that’s not what he was asking. But for me not to see the impact something like this would have on those around us was like asking me to change who I was in my eyes.

“Be selfish?” Slowly I allowed myself to open my eyes to glance out again. “I don’t know how to do that. It’s not in my DNA to be selfish.” And I’d never wanted to be. It’s why it was easy for me to put my walls up and never look back.

He asked me what I wanted, that was something that made my heart do something it never did before. I began to feel that weight close around my chest, making it hard to pretend it wasn’t happening. I closed my eyes once again. The Spirits had told me to stop him for me, and my wolf when she had spoken, had told me to listen to him. So, I did as he asked. For a moment, I tried to push everything that lay on my shoulders to the side. I stopped thinking of myself as the beta of a pack of Spirit Warriors, and for a second, I let myself become Leah once again… Just Leah….

I straightened up like a bolt at what I saw. It was light, it was warmth, it was joy, and it wasn’t something I ever had aspirations of.

Those deep brown eyes, the smile, the hair falling into his eyes when it was a little too long. And dimples… When did it register in my mind that Embry Call had dimples? A long time ago, but when did they become something, I looked forward to seeing? Spirits! I didn’t even know.

Turning to face him my eyes searched for those things… For the pull that I was feeling, and I wanted to be there with him in case I missed them.

“Spirits… Embry…”

Before I could stop my feet, I closed the space between the two of us. My eyes still searching him for a sign, did he really want this too?

(Music: Talk – Khalid )

↬ Embry Call ↫

I watched her... the confusion seemed to run deeper the more we talked about it. I didn't want this to cause her stress and I really didn't want this to cause her anything negative.

It all seemed to disappear for a moment and there she was again... the same woman only not guarded, her eyes were filled with all the things I could get glimpses of were there... wide open and laid out just for me to see.

She moved towards me, and I threw all the caution I had wrangled to let Leah come to her own conclusions to the wind. I smiled and met her halfway.

"Thank the Spirits!" I smiled bolder now and brought one hand to her waist and the other to her cheek again. My eye's locked on hers and my heart thumped loudly again. I leaned in and kissed her; there it was again. The heat of her body next to mine and the electricity of the kiss coursing through my body at the contact.

Maybe I had no idea what I was doing but I was going to figure it out. I knew that there was something here, something I wasn't ready to walk away from.

My mouth moved against hers and a deep, low sound swelled up out of my chest and my hand slipped back into her hair again, it was a feeling I couldn't resist now.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

His reaction left me blinking and taken aback once again, it was like he was reading my mind. The questions where all still there of course, but the main question that I’d been in search for he answered without even saying a thing.

He met me half way, 50/50, we both took those steps towards each other when we were the two most unlikely to do such a thing.

When he thanked the spirits, they were listening. They were never far from these lands or their people.

And the moment Embry placed a hand on my waist and cheek, a fire burned deep in my soul, as the wind came to life and pushed me forward.

My arms slipped around him, I stepped into his broad chest and closed my eyes. Listening to words of the unspoken conversation that he had started.

Our lips moved together like this was the rightful place for them to meet, I tilted my head slightly as I heard and felt his heart. The rhythm of it played like a song, one that only a few could understand.

His fingers found their way into my hair once again, and this time I didn’t want to kill him. The calm washed over me, and I told myself. “Let yourself have this.”

Whatever 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 was. There were no guarantees in life, and I never asked for them. So, it was time to take a leap of faith with the one you trust, maybe?

↬ Embry Call ↫

Something somewhere deep inside of me clicked into place, something that I just realised now that had been disjointed for a while. Heat flooded my veins again, I wound my arm around her and tilted her face up to me to deepen the kiss.

She wanted this too? She had let in the moment, had she truly taken just what she wanted into account?

“Spirits.” I muttered softly against her lips, my fingers twisting in her hair. I wanted this... I wanted more and more moments like this with her.

The strangest feeling of all was the this was everything I desired. Standing in the middle of her living room, holding her... And kissing her like we had all the time in the world. When was the last time I kissed a girl without the sole intention being to fall into bed with her?

I knew that there was something more here... Something better... Something that stretched out beyond tonight, and that idea didn't fill me with dread.

A low hum left my lips and I leaned to hers. “So...” I started. “We both want this.” The scent of her shampoo hit again. “Spirits, you really do smell good.” The words tumbling out mid-thought. “We both want this.” I turned into her and pressed a long kiss to her temple. My stomach rioted at the closeness and my heart stumbled again. “So now we work out how we can do this. Right?”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Waterfalls…. That’s what came to my mind as he deepened the kiss. I felt like the water that was flowing down a river until there was an unforeseen turn, and then I was alive with the current. Which elevated me and filled me with something more. But going over the edge, it wasn’t scary, it was enlightenment.

His arms engulfed me, which wasn’t easily done for someone like me. I never gave this to anybody. I didn’t trust any guy enough to be in a place where they could take a hold of me in this way. But with Embry, it all just fell into place.

I twisted my fingers into the back of his shirt, tightening the fabric in my hand as I let myself take this moment in. It was his murmurs which caused my eyes to flicker open.

“I believe we both answered that just now.” I whispered like it was something I only wanted him to hear. Because I didn’t want to share this moment with anyone but him.

Resting my forehead to his jaw I closed my eyes and then they flew open. I was resting my forehead on him! That was new for me!

My scent? It hadn’t changed, but like me his outlook on it had maybe?

“We both…. Want… this…” we were repeating ourselves. But the more I said it, the more the calm washed over me.

I swallowed closing my eyes when he kissed my temple ( another first ), and slowly pulled back to find his eyes. Nodding my head.

“That’s the next steps. You know it’s going to be….” I wasn’t sure right now what it was going to be.

The two words kept dancing in my mind…. 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭.

↬ Embry Call ↫

My hand moved through her hair again and I still could hardly believe that this was happening. I could feel the heat of her body against my chest. She had stepped into me; she had met me halfway.

"We do." I whispered, making sure she knew there was two of us in this. And I was all in.

The way she rested her forehead against my cheek... I could feel the ease in her body, how close she was now, the way her arms had come around me, making me feel that overwhelming sense of being exactly where I was meant to be.

I pulled to see her face, letting my lips brush against her temple again. It made my stomach do that twisting thing again.

Those eyes were captivating, I got lost for a moment. “Tell me what you need so we can explore all of this together.” Whatever she needed I would do my best and I knew she would do the same in any situation for me. “And I’ll tell you too…” her eyes were deep and pulling me in. This was far too good to walk away from.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Was this all a dream? Had I fallen asleep last night while watching the videos from the open mic night? But I knew… I didn’t dream… I was never in my body long enough to have dreams.

The Spirits allowed my body to rest, they protected it for me while my soul walked their plains.

So, this had to be real? I had to be stood in my living room, after the night we had. Embry was still stood here too. Asking me what I needed for us to take this path together.

It was the brush of his warm lips against my temple again that sealed it for me. I was not dreaming.

“I… I don’t know what I need. I’ve never even thought something like this is where I could end up. I’d made sure that I never felt this thing.”

My chest wasn’t as heavy as it had been, in fact him being this close had lightened it for me.

“Rules….” The word was out right away. “If I/ we can’t plan… I need rules.” Rules was something I could manage and would keep me sane. His eyes were drawing me in again. How had I missed the way he did that until recently?

↬ Embry Call ↫

My hand unwound itself from her hair and when she stopped talking my finger traced the curve of her lips. Spirit's... she was perfect... every detail of her. I knew she was gorgeous, anyone that saw her couldn't deny it.

But now that I could get close to her and let my gaze linger on her mouth, her eyes, the graceful curve of her mouth and did I think of her eyes? The beautiful arch of her neck. Things I could never do without her wanting to punch me.

She was incredible.

With my arms still around her I stepped back around her coffee table and towards her couch.

I chuckled a little at her saying she needed rules. She was incredible... but she was also ridiculous. "Okay." I smiled. The back of my legs hit her couch, and I lower myself down and moved my hands to her waist and pulled her down too, right next to me. I didn't want to lose that feeling of belonging that came from being close to her. "I can do that..." Following rules was really not my thing... but for her, I would give it my best shot.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes blinking because it was the only body part of me that was willing to move right now. I was frozen in my spot. Watching him as his eyes roamed over me, and I didn’t want to kill him ( not completely anyway ) . My lips parted a little, sucking in a sharp breath. His fingers were leaving a burning fire in their wake, but for some reason I wasn’t pulling back away.

I could imagine taking him down. If I hit him in the side of his ribs…. I shook that thought out of my mind, I couldn’t go back to doing that. Why was I still thinking of hitting him? Maybe because I wasn’t used to being this close to a man, well… not in this way at least.

My feet started and I was letting him take me back around my table, and towards the couch. It hit me how I was following and not leading the way? Swallowing hard as my mind push the sensations I had felt before when I had sat down on there with him.

“Embry Call…” I was breathless, still feeling his fingers trailing over my lips.

“Since when have you been good with rules?”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I was in awe of her... How had I ever been so blind? She sat with me, and I kept my thigh pressed against hers, still craving the contact. My hand moved from around her waist and slid down her arm. She whispers my name and my stomach flipped

“I'm not... but...” I bit my lip while I considered how to best phrase this. “I mean we are kind of winging this… right? And that’s definitely something I’m good with… so the least I can do is try to follow a few rules.”

I tilted her chin up and brought my lips to hers kissing her with a soft smile. “Within reason.” I locked gazes with her, so she knew I meant it. But I was still me and following rules wasn’t exactly my style. “I can meet you half way, Leah. I want to.”

I didn’t know where this was going but I wanted to. So I did… and I started out with something I knew that she would agree with. “First rule, family before anything else… Mom, Sue, Seth… if they need us there’s no questions asked?” I phrased it like a question but there was no doubt that she would agree.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“I don’t want you to change who you are for this, not for me. Not for anyone.” The words were well placed as I started to take back control of myself.

𝘐… 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳… 𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦!

I shook my head, at the fact that I was sat here thinking those words.

“We all need to evolve, to learn and grow but that is different to change.” Or at least it was in my eyes. As I spoke at the same time, I was fully aware of the fact that his legs were touching mine… but it was something more and the same again. It was Embry… and he was the same temperature as me. For me the men always were cool to the touch, not as cold as the Cullen’s, but cooler than my / our 108 degrees.

“Winging it?” Of course, that was his outlook, and it was how he lived his life. But me. “I’m a very private person Embry for a reason. I don’t tell others how to live their life, and I don’t want them thinking they can do it to me. Maybe we need a little something more than 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵?”

Shaking my head, my gaze darted back to him as I continued to listen, and he took the initiative to come up with the first rule. The moment he said it I knew he was worth the leap. The first rule he came up with was the first rule in my list for life. For me Rule One had been;

ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ! ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇᴛʜ, ᴅᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.

I nod my head slowly. “Hundred percent agree. Always. No questions.”

Biting the inside of my cheeks, my eyebrows pulled together as I thought what the second on my list was, and how it would need to be on this list too.

“Rule Two; The pack is second only to family. We will never leave our packs blind-sighted by not showing up. Never put our needs before them and the people we were born to protect?”

I knew Call was like me in this way. He’d never skirt his responsibilities when it came to it.

TBC...

[blazingtheway]

Tonight’s the night – All bets must be paid! – Storyline 9 – Together - Part One

↬ Embry Call ↫

Tonight, was the night, the keyboard and the guitar #Tony had left in the bar were loaded into the jeep. Along with my Nana’s guitar, if I had to 𝕊𝕀ℕ𝔾 in front all of La Push and half of Forks… I sure as hell wasn’t gonna do it without Nana’s help. It wasn’t like I hadn’t had a chance to play the beauty that #Tony had hired to the #HWH while it was in my care.

#Quil had arranged to get off work for the night because he didn’t want to miss it… and had promised to video chat with Bear and Mom so they wouldn’t either.

I flipped through the notebook I’d kept the line up in… and told myself not to second guess it. I had put #Tony and #Ness in the last two slots to close out the night on a high note. Then there were about ten people on the reserves for no shows. It was a good mix… though I had little hope for the few comedy acts that had signed up.

I climbed into the jeep and headed off to the bar… My heart was pounding a little… MCing the night was fine… Once I had the song behind me it would be a good night. I really hoped that Leah had a bottle Paul’s best stashed under the bar for tonight… or at least that black absinthe we drank the night we hit the club together.

The group chat buzzed in my pocket. I had been ignoring it all day because the guys were relentless about this! I had to chuckle though. They were all hyped for the show.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘Tonight’s the night!’ #Seth came out the back with a box of whisky and another of wine in his arms.

‘It’s going to be a rocking night.’ #Mac called out from behind the stage.

#Charlie stood by my side as we both cut up the fruits, and the citruses that would be needed. “As long as my ears don’t bleed, I’ll think it a success.” I told them.

The guys had been planning this open mic night for some time, it had been an idea to keep business coming in on nights that were slow. And today was night One.

‘Embry had the list, and he was going to make sure that the line-up is at least worth a laugh. We had a few interesting requests.’ #Mac told us.

‘I still can’t believe that ‘Bry didn’t try to get out of today.’

“He’s not the kind of guy to back down from a bet. He will pay up.” Smirking as I looked at the time.

Nodding towards the door. “It’s time.”

#Seth left the boxes on the side for me to stack the extra under the bar for later and went to open them.

Our phones were buzzing in our pockets, but I didn’t look to see what was being said. I knew it was the pups. They had been excited for the last few days.

“Well, if no one else comes. We know that we will have the guys and the girls over.”

#Seth laughed reading out a message.

[ 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚏 𝙱𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗? ]

I shook my head. The one thing I knew about Embry Call, he wasn’t one to back out of a deal.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Jeez!!! They were not laying off at all! But I was not about to give any of them the satisfaction of those little blue ticks. No way!! If they wanted to know how the night was gonna go, they’d have to show up!

Jake had to make the pup draw straws for who was patrolling tonight. This whole thing had kind of snowballed… But that was good. It was about getting a full house at the Clearwater’s bar on a Monday night.

I pulled up outside right as #Seth opened the door and shouted back inside. ‘He showed!!! YES! Twenty-five bucks richer!’ He tucked his phone back into his pocket and I rolled my eyes. “Were you betting on whether or not I would show up?” I glared at the kid as I stepped out of the jeep.

He clutched dramatically at his heart. ‘Hey, I was on your side I bet that you would.’ He flashed that too-sweet-to-be-wholesome smile of his.

“Just get over her and grab a guitar, kid!” I smiled and walked to the back to grab the keyboard and my grandmother's guitar. When I walked in, I saw the new guy and Leah behind the bar. “Hey!” I called to them.

“You guys ready for this?”

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥!’ The kid shouted out, more for the others than for me. I heard that Jeep rolled up into the parking lot before the doors were open.

Rolling my eyes i ducked under the bar to set up the glasses before standing up again. ‘I think that’s everything.’ #Charlie said drying his hands off. Before both of us looked over to Embry.

‘It’s looking to be a good night.’ #Charlie said.

And me? I gave a dead pan look. “If you break the speakers with your terrible singing, you are so working off the cost here at the bar.”

Giving Call the 𝘐’𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 sign with my fingers.

‘Lee, give the guy a chance will you.’ #Mac jumped down from the stage. And I scoffed at him. ‘Can I help you with anything there Embry?’

“I’ll give him a break, when it’s time for him to pay up.” Smirking I pushed a glass of #Mermaidspunk over the bar. I’d made it before ready for now.

“In case you need some liquid courage Call.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I headed right to the stage and started the unzip the keyboard case; since it was the only thing that really needed any setup. I plugged it in and started to fire up the sound system. I looked over to the bar and shook my head. “I hope you put some moonshine into that, Trouble!” I chuckled and set the beautiful black guitar in its place. “Don’t you need a special license to sell lap dances?” I smirked at her.

I looked to #Mac and nodded. “Can you keep this behind the bar for me until I’m up?” I handed him the white case and he nodded. ‘You brought your own? I thought you’d want to play the one #Ton brought… you were drooling over it when we were setting up.’ #Mac chuckled.

“Oh, I will!” I grinned. “#Ness and a few of the guys want me to play from them. But I had to bring something special for my debut.” I laughed., heading to the bar.

I smiled at the new guy, extending my hand to him. “#Charlie, right? Embry… Welcome home. And yes, it's gonna be a great night.” I rolled my eyes at Leah and took a seat on a barstool, setting the notebook and sign sheets down in front of me. I lifted the cocktail and drank; I wasn’t giving Leah the satisfaction of knowing I never wanted to see this blue concoction ever again!

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The excitement from both #Seth and #Mac was palpable and a little contagious, rubbing off on #Charlie too.

Me? It was trilling to see a plan coming to launch of course it was. But I was going to hold off on the back patting until we saw a few of these nights, and could see if it made a difference to the feet through the door.

‘Would you for once just go with the vibes of the moment? Let your hair down, have some fun? Look at the boys, do it for them.’ My wolf was lapping up the euphoria around us.

I had to remind her that I wasn’t into the vibes of the moment. I needed something more solid to hold onto. Which earned me a huff from her.

My eyes moved over to the bar watching it all unfold. And I shook my head. ‘Embry is taking this seriously.’ She noted at the same time as I did. “Do you really think I wouldn’t have some of Paul’s so called 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 in stock. But the real question is will I be stupid enough to give you any before the night even starts?”

#Charlie lent over the bar and shook his hand with Call. ‘There is magic under the bar?’ He asked looking a little confused.

Smirking, “I’ll let you into the secret later.” Which just made him laugh.

“Enjoy.” I told Call, knowing too well he wouldn’t say no to the drink.

Nodding my head over to the notebook. It was the first time I had seen Call with something like that. “What’s going on there?”

↬ Embry Call ↫

Leah was doing that internal conversation thing again and I tried not to smile when noticed. "C'mon!! I know I lost the bet... but that doesn't mean I shouldn't get some liquid courage before I pay up!" I teased her and finished off the cocktail in one go.

I looked down at the notebook and back up to her. "Just the contact details of the acts the setlist and a few ideas of where to slip in the back-up acts if someone doesn't show... and any of the acts that have backing tracks or need someone to play while they sing." I rambled off the list to try and stop myself from thinking of getting up there to sing.

"Oh, and I told anyone that I couldn't guarantee slot that they get priority if you guys do this again... I hope that's okay. #Tony and #Nessie are up last because the closing acts are the most remembered."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘Wow there dude… slow down. I know people think these colourful fruity drinks aren’t much to look at. However, they pack a punch.’ #Charlie tapped in the bar, and then headed out to the back for some more glasses.

I stood there now, wiping down the counter. Smirking at the way the new guy was worried that Call wouldn’t make it through the night. “Yeah, slow down Call. Before the singing turns into a striptease. I’ve told you before, I don’t have the licenses for that yet.”

‘You should invest in them, keeping in mind how much Paul likes to undress.’ #Seth chimed in before moving towards the lights to test them.

Stopping I crossed my arms over my chest now, listening to Call rattle off his list. He lost me half way in. Tilting my head, I looked at him wide-eyed.

‘See, we knew Embry was the best choice to MC.’ #Mac clapped his shoulder. Grabbing a cloth to clean down the tables by the stage.

“Hmm… you are the music nerd here Call, if that’s what you believe needs to be done…” I shrugged. “Then that… is what we do. Is there anything… other than the moonshine. You need from me?”

The sound of voices and vehicles outside told me that the night was about to get going.

‘Hello beautiful people!’ A new voice, but one we started to recognise sang. It was #Tony who came rushing through the door.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I chuckled at #Charlie's suggestion to slow down. But said nothing he'd soon see how alcohol the guys around her can handle.

I turned to #Seth and laughed. "Do we really want to encourage #Paul to take off more clothes?" I asked with a quirked brow and saw the kid visible shudder at the thought.

I looked up at her and smirked at the stunned expression on her face. "Just don't scare off the acts..." I teased her. "Artists are sensitive. And keep the whiskey flowing." I winked at her; certain it would earn me a slap.

I turned back to the door when I heard #Tony outside. "Hey, Tony!! I knew you'd show up early!!" I chuckled. Just in time for a sound check."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I shuddered at the same time as the kid. It was clear we both had the same image in our heads.

#Paul had this thing about jumping on the bar and dancing. And I was adamant it would not occur tonight.

“Wait. Is Paul on that list of yours? Tell me you did 𝘕𝘰𝘵 give him a spot tonight?”

Narrowing my eyes at Call my fingers found a bottle cap. Picking it up I flicked it to hit the back of his head as he turned to greet #Tony.

“I make no promises to either of those two things. You know what happens when people bug me.”

#Tony came to join Call at the bar. His soft boyish looks, with the music nerd charms, and shyness of the first time we met, came back.

‘Me… ye.. yes… sure I would. We have to sound check.’ He was speaking to Call, but his eyes were moving with me.

If I walked up bar, his eyes were there. If I walked down bar his eyes were there. ‘Hi… Hello, Leah.’ He finally got it out.

“Hey Tony.” I placed a can of soda on the bar for him, noticing the blush on his cheeks. “You look set for the night.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

“Hey!!!” I rubbed the back of my head. #Tony laughed. ‘She never misses, does she?’ He greeted me with a hug.

I grinned a sly cheeky smile to let her think the maybe... just maybe I had, before coming clean! “I did... but then too many serious acts signed up so... Lahote got bumped. Rachel was very happy about it.” I laughed.

#Tony was still a nervous wreck around her, but most guys were. “#Tony is always ready for a performance right?” he had already lifted the set list I left open on the bar and was nodding.

‘Hey, whose this last one? I've never seen this name before.’ he looked at me with a quirked brow.

“#Ness is a hidden gem believe me.” I smiled. “She just doesn't perform much... Or at all. Family gatherings, barbeques. She's only singing tonight because it's here.”

I patted Tony on the back and pointed to the stage telling him to climb up and help me with a soundcheck.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“I guess I won’t fire you.” I told Embry before leaving the two of them to do their thing.

‘We aren’t paying him sis.’ #Seth mused and earned a roll of my eyes.

“Won’t stop me from firing him.”

Passing #Charlie with the glasses tray, I made my way to the office. There had been some invoices from today’s delivery I wanted to file away.

Pushing the door open, I made my way to the desk. Hearing the footsteps, I turned to look back at the door.

‘Lee, do we want a special cocktail for tonight? Like you did with the Mermaid thing?’ #Mac asked leaning into the doorframe.

I didn’t need to think long. “Why don’t we let the new guy pick something?” I asked sitting down in the chair and opening up the laptop.

‘Sure thing. I’m sure #Char will enjoy the opportunity.’ He winked and pushed off.

“Just remind him to make enough mix to cover half the night. The girls are all going to be here, and they always pump up the others too. So, we don’t want to be making the special to order tonight.”

#Mac saluted me, making me throw a pen at his head. ‘Ouch! Employee abuse!’ He laughed and left.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"You might once you hear me sing!" I laughed. "Volunteer or not."

#Seth laughed and shook his head. 'Wow... what happened to that over-confident, cocky Embry Call we all know and love!?' He teased me.

"That Embry doesn't sing!" I laughed. #Tony patted my shoulder before he headed to the stage. 'You'll do fine dude.' #Tony hopped up onto the stage and I head to the opposite side of the bar while he counted off into the mic. Leah had vanished to the back.

We made the necessary adjustment to the sound system and when I got back to the bar #Charlie had set a tall glass of something pink where my empty glass was. 'Try that and tell me what you think?' He smiled.

"Me? I'm really not the best person to ask about cocktails." I laughed and Charlie shrugged.

'We know who have the best taste when comes to this kinda thing.' Adding a little melody to the word 𝙬𝙚 made me quirk a brow.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘In coming.’ #Seth’s voice rang in my ears as I put in the last of the data on the accounts and turned off the laptop. Standing up, I combed my fingers through my hair and gave her a little volume. ( Not that it needed it. )

“I’m on my way.” my voice was low, and I knew he would hear me. “Here we go.” I mumbled coming out from the office and then out onto the main bar area. Stopped by the door, a little shocked at seeing a tall pink cocktail waiting before Call. “Who knew we could refine your tastes when it came to booze Call?”

Looking up and down the bar smirking as some of the locals had started to make their way in. my phone chimed, and I took a moment to check the screen.

𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢- [ 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕, 𝚂𝚊𝚖 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚊 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚝. ]

I didn’t need to reply, all that mattered to me was that my young cousin #Emma showed up to look after #Kishil.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I tilted my head at #Charlie again and sipped on the pink thing. It tasted like strawberry, watermelon and not nearly enough vodka. "What do you mean 𝕨𝕖?" I asked, returning to the bar... and the new glanced from me to #Tony, who was turning red and watching Leah coming out from the back.

'Oh!!' #Charlie went a little pink now too... 'I thought you two were... Never mind.' he pointed between me and #Tony.

#Seth started to chuckle. 'Don't worry #Charlie... Happens all the time. This one looks the part... but he oozes toxic heterosexuality once you get to know him.'

I glared at #Seth but couldn't help it... I laughed. "It's the v-necks isn't it?" And #Charlie nodded animatedly in answer.

People started to trickle in slowly and I signed in anyone the showed up and was singing of performing tonight.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Tilting my head down but my eyes remained on the #Charlie and Call. Rubbing the tip of my nose with the back of my hand, to hide the smirk that was growing within me.

I wasn’t one to really laugh, and it was happening a little too much for my liking these days. Moving out from behind the bar, I needed to get away from this conversation.

‘Wait until you meet his wife.’ #Seth continued ‘they are really made for each other.’

The glance in the mirror shows #Charlie’s face full of confusion ‘The Wife, you’re married?’ He asked Call. Now I was really smirking because the scent coming from outside told me this was going to get good.

‘And I have arrived.’ #Quil stepped into the bar and laughter erupted. ‘What? What did I say?’

#Seth and #Mac were all but rolling on the ground. #Tony glanced over list and #Charlie, his eyes widened looking from Call to #Quil and back again.

“Spirits help me.” I muttered heading over to talk to some of the locals about the changes of the night.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"Speak of the wife and he shall appear." I teased, laughing with the others, as #Quil announced himself and came up to the bar.

'Please!! WE all know you're the wife. Not me." He rolled his eyes and hugged me.

"Oh, I beg you to explain why I'm the wife, because I do the laundry and make the coffee in the morning. Right here. In front of Leah. I dare you!" I smirked and #Quil made a zipping motion over his lips.

'Smart move.' #Seth chuckled. I heard a van pull up and that meant the pups were here, several familiar voices sounded from outside... all talking about seeing my Jeep and settling their bets with one another.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Hearing my name, I turned my attention back towards the bar area. #Quil was smiling and happy. The light kiss from the wind on my arms was all the answer I needed. He had been going through a hard time with #Claire. Not that the kiddo was giving him trouble, but more like 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 and the protector in him wanted her never to hurt.

‘Hey Leah.’ He waved from over there and I gave him a curt nod of my head in reply.

“It’s about time you got your hairy arse down here to have some fun.” I joked, making him shift on his feet. Seeing the tablet in his hands I knew he was going to call #Claire, and #MsC in for the show tonight. Ma was going to be with #MsC tonight too, as they planned for it to be a girls night for them. Before coming to the bar, I’d ridden out to Port to get them their favourite pizza for the night.

“Is that thing charged up?” and seeing him shift I shook my head and then jerked my chin to the back. “You know where the chargers are in the office.”

‘You’re a life saver Leah, thanks.’ He called out before running around the bar counter and into the back. And the pups came tumbling in threw the door.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I rolled my eyes at #Quil... of course, he forgot to charge the tablet. But before I could mock him Some came in that I knew had signed up for the night, so I called them over to the bar and get them signed in... told them the running order and they headed back to their friends to order a drink.

I'd already added Tony's name to the line-up. "Hey." I said quietly to Leah. "Is #Jess coming tonight?" I had already floated the idea of introducing #Jessica to #Tony. When it came to appearances #Jess was way out of his league, but she was sweet and the type to recognised a good person no matter how weird and awkward they were

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I finally made it behind the bar. #Charlie was actually managing the small crowd of people at there just fine. He had the ropes down in the little time he had been here.

Showing me the cocktail, he had created for the night, asking me to try it. When I took a sip, I raised my eyebrow. “It’s a Cranbury and hibiscus sour with a twist… of… Juniper?”

The keen sense of taste meant that I could pick out even the hidden scents and flavours in things. ‘A woman who knows her drinks.’ He laughed. ‘However, we need to give it a better name?’ Seeing his mind working until he had something. ‘How about #StarlightCalling?’

‘I like it.’ #Mac said walking into the back, so I grabbed the chalk pen and started to write up the black board for the night.

“Hmm?” Call’s voice made it to my ears, but I didn’t turn as I knew he was behind me. Once the board was done I turned to face him. “Jess? Yeah, she said she would be here after they close the practice. Why?”

And then I saw #Tony, and Embry’s match making idea came flashing back. “Are you really going to do that?” I nodded to #Tony.

I wasn’t someone who interfered in people’s life. Not unless they were heading off the cliff side. Or the spirits were kicking my arse to step in. But the rest of this lot. They were in each other’s business all the time.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I listened to Leah talk to the new about the cocktail. Strawberry and watermelon were kinda close.

"See that's a proper cocktail name... not like that last one!" I laughed, yes #MermaidSpunk was what I had called it, but I never meant for it to make it onto the cocktail menu.

I grinned at Leah and shrugged. "It can't hurt to introduce them, right? I mean #Tony gets too nervous to talk around pretty girls and #Jessica is more than capable of talking for too... so... it seems kind of perfect." I watched Leah, to gauge her reaction.

"Plus, you know if it led to anything he would worship her. And she loves to be doted on." I gave Leah my most charming smile. Setting up any Clearwater definitely needed Leah approval... on pain of death.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

#Charlie slipped another glass in front of Call. I changed it up before giving it to the boss lady, you know… best foot forward and all. Give this one a try.’

“Don’t call me that.” I told #Charlie narrowing my eyes at him.

‘Yes Boss.’ And then he rushed to the other side of the bar to serve.

“Do you think smacking him now is too soon? I should leave it another week, right?” I didn’t mean to ask the question, it was for my wolf who just rolled her eyes at me.

Shaking the thought off my head, I turned my attention back to Call. Listening to him plead his case. I knew what he meant. #Jessica was a mile a minute on the best of days.

“I’m not her keeper. She can made her own decisions. But… if his worshiping makes her change her plans for her life. I will have something to say. You know she is going to college; she wants to be a vet.”

And I hoped that she was strong enough not to let a guy change those plans she was working towards.

“Do as you wish. It’s just an introduction.” And I had to say, #Tony from what I saw was a good guy.

‘Where is my stage at?’ I dropped my head letting my hair cover my face before flipping it back and combing my fingers through it.

“Your stage is at home where no one can see you Lahote!” His wife walked around the front laughing as he stood there glaring. “Don’t make me ban you from here!”

↬ Embry Call ↫

"I think it's probably best if he knows what he's getting into from day one." I chuckled and by that, I meant that this place was family to her.. and hiring #Charlie meant he had an in for a spot in hers. Which came with an inevitable series of head slaps.

I lifted the drink and sipped. "Oh..." I was oddly surprised "Okay that one I like. Still needs more alcohol... but..." She knew I meant there was plenty for the human. But to us, it was fruit juice.

I shook my head and laughed. "Please! Like anyone could stand in #Jessica's way." #Tony wasn't the type anyway. "He plays a lot of gigs in Seattle..." I winked at her. "I've thought this all through."

I laughed at #Paul and #Rachel gave me the DO-NOT-give-him-the-microphone look. I looked at my phone and smiled. "Almost time!" And waved over a few more acts to sing them in.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

As #Charlie walked past me to grab some glasses, I smacked him up side his head. “Start as you mean to go on.”

I grumbled but I raised my eyebrow when he, fist pumped the air. ‘Yes! I’m in!’

It was #Seth and #Mac who started to clap and cheer. ‘Pay up.’ #Seth said and #Mac handed him ten bucks.

“Shameless.” I snapped at them, and they just bowed getting back to work.

Turning back to Call I shrugged my shoulder. “She is a Clearwater. But… sometimes she goes off the rails.”

Pouring out a drink for #Rachel and opening a bottle of beer for Paul. I had to shake my head at the look She was giving to Call. #Rach knew her husband too well. My eyes darted to the door, there was movement at it. Someone stepping towards, and then away from it.

“Hey kid, can you take this next order here.” I pointed to the next person waiting. And then stepped out from behind the bar, making my way towards the door.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I laughed and shook my head at the guys. They were taking bets on how long it would be before Leah hit the new guy. And they didn't let me in on it!!! I would have words later.

I held up my glass to #Charlie and grin. "Congrats! You're one of us now."

'One of us! One of us!' #Paul droned in the robotic voice, rousing a laughed from the gathered pups. I Slapped a broad palm down on his shoulder.

'Wait... what Clearwater are we talking about?' Rachel asked after she thanked Leah for her drink.

"#Jessica... and no! No, setting up... no meddling. I'm just going to introduce them and see what happens." I gave her the closest thing to a stern look I could give any of the prints and glanced over my shoulder to see #Tony talking to some of the other musicians. "#Tony is.... sensitive. So just let it happen or not happen on its own." I spoke softly to #Rachel, but I was acutely aware of Leah heading to the door.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

As I walked to the door, I could hear every word being shared at the bar.

Of course would want clarification on if it was #Jessica or me the conversation was about. Even with being human, nothing got past her when it came to set ups. Everything else she never heard. I tuned out from them all. Crossing my arms over my chest. I came to a stop just out of eye line of the doors.

Standing a few steps away, I watched and listened. Not just with my eyes and ears. But with all the gifts blessed on me by the spirits.

It was a girl, she was young, but old enough to be here. Her scent was the first this I noticed, human sure, but there was a light ting of anxiety mixed with it. The sound of her heartbeat was racing a mile a minute, but it was the muttering to herself that made me smirk.

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ She whispered to someone, and he muttered back before coming in. She was nervous that was apparent.

I made my way outside, and she crashed right into me. My hands reached out catching her before she could fall.

‘I.. I… I—‘ once I was sure she was back on her own feet I cut her off.

“You’re sorry, I know.” She blushed beetroot in her face. “Are you planning on coming in tonight?”

She looked back towards the road and then me. ‘I… I…’ she wasn’t going to be able to talk. ‘You’re Leah!’ It wasn’t a question.

My eyes moved over the small case she was carrying. Too small for a guitar, I thought.

“Yeah… I am…” she blushed again her cheeks a deeper red. I had seen her on the Rez but hadn’t really spoken to her. ( I didn’t speak to many )

“How about this…” I said. “Come on in, sit at the bar with me, have a drink, and then see if you find your words?” I told her.

‘I don’t drink.’ She managed to say.

“Wow. She speaks?” Waving my hand in the air. “I have soda, and alcohol-free drinks too.” Nodding back towards the door. “Coming?”

Taking two steps back I stopped in the door way. “You don’t have to say a thing. Just sit, have a drink and watch.”

Her eyes were back on the road, but then I saw the deep breath she took. And then she followed me in.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I finished my drink and made my yeah up onto the stage to make the final preparations. #Tony jumped up and helped me. plugging in a laptop to the sound system and hitting play on his pre-gig playlist just to get the mood going.

It was instantly obvious the La Push was not used to live music when eyes started to turn to us as we move equipment and instruments into place, I positioned and bar stool in front of the mic. The first few acts we acoustic singers... it was a mellow start to the night.

#Tony caught my attention and whispered something to me. I nodded in agreement and headed to the bar... seeing the timid girl that followed Leah back to the bar.

I caught #Mac's attention and he nodded and went to grab my guitar for me while I took in the unknown girl and the instrument case she carried with curiosity.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes darted over the floor, noticing how as soon as the music started to play, people had moved away from the bar.

‘Hey Lealea.’ #Emily was coming up behind us with #Sam.

“Hey Em, Sam.” Nodding my head to them and letting them pass us by, Emily smiled big at the girl. ‘Hi Sumina, how is your mom?’ Raising my eyebrow. Of course, my cousin knew the girl.

‘She… she is well thank you Emily.’ She smiled but the nerves were still there.

‘It’s looking good in here.’ #Sam said. And I nodded towards the guys, telling him it was all them.

“So, Sumina…” pulling out a free stool for her before I made my way around the bar. “What can I get you?”

She pulled up on the stool and sat down. Her eyes moved from me to Embry and then #Seth. Those cheeks of hers red again.

Clicking my fingers in front of the two. “Don’t you both have things to do?” Rolling my eyes. They looked like they wanted her for breakfast.

‘Me... yeah. I’m right on it.’ The kid said and rushed back to the customer he was serving. Embry was still eyeing her up as I filled her a glass of soda.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I rolled my eyes when she snapped her fingers at me. Of course, she assumed I was checking her out or something. I smiled at #Sam and #Emily... but the second #Mac passed my heart sped up. Was I really going to do this? Sing... here? I exhaled heavily... but curiosity about #Sumina pricked at me.

"She's not on my lineup." I said as though I talking to the pup next to me, speaking so low that only wolf ears would pick it out over the music. "Find what she plays and if she wants to perform."

#Tony stepped up to the mic and started talking. 'Good evening La Push... Now I'm not your MC tonight. But since he was strong-armed into opening the show tonight, by our lovely host. Miss Leah Clearwater and her brother.' He pointed to the bar. 'I figured he at least deserved an introduction. So Let's kick off this shindig! With La Push's own Embry Call!!!" He clapped and everyone else joined in as enthusiastically as #Tony... he really was born for the stage.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I shook my head to Call, as to say not to push the girl. I didn’t do coddling of anyone ever, but even I could tell when someone had taken a brave step.

The way she held onto the case on her lap, I leant over the bar. “If you want, I could put that back here. It will be safe, and you won’t have to worry about it?”

But she declined the offer. Half hugging it as she set the glass down on the bar.

#Jessica caught my eye and had seems the girl taking a seat. Motioning me over to her.

“I’ll be back, if you need another drink.” I pointed to #Charlie. “Charlie will serve you.” He smiled at #Sumina.

Stepping around him I stood before #Jesica. ‘Cuz, it’s so good to see Sumina out tonight. She doesn’t get out much, helping at home with her family takes up all her time.’ And of course. #Jessica knew her too.

‘Her mom has M.S, and well, Sumina helps to look after her.’ My eyes drifted to the girl and then Emily, it was all falling into place. ‘She used to play the violin at school.’ #Jessica hadn’t stopped talking.

“Why don’t you go and make her feel welcome? Maybe take her to the table with the guys?”

Just as I said the words #Tony was on stage, and I heard my name with a few whooping sounds for Embry’s name. Rolling my eyes at #Tony, I shifted back behind the bar.

Reaching under it, I pulled out a bottle, filling a shot glass up I set it down beside Call. “Don’t say… I don’t do anything for you.” The moonshine was all he was getting from me.

“Now, it’s time for pay back Call.”

#Quil was out from the back too, and holding up the screen showing Claire, Ma and #MsC what was happening in the place before he went to sit down with a drink, making sure the mom’s and #Bear had a good view.

‘Did we miss it?’ #Kim and #Becca came rushing into the bar. Breathing a sigh of relief, seeing that they were on time.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I opened the case and lifted out the guitar. Smiling when she handed me the shot of moonshine, and I knocked it back. "Thanks, Trouble." I winked at her, but I was fooling no one with my heart racing in my chest.

I was never betting against Leah again. The only person here that ever heard me sing was #Quil and his teenager imprint #Claire. She had been four, running a fever and we couldn't get her to sleep.

I took my grandmother's guitar to the stage. "Don't let me down Nana." I whispered. I stepped up and sat on the stool in centre stage, nestling the beautiful white guitar across my knee. The hand-painted, white dove as perfect as the day my grandfather bought it for his wife.

I said nothing... I didn't know what to say... not right now anyway. So, I just play, #Paul let out another holler. Fuck... Everyone was paying all their attention to me I swallowed hard and just sang.

( Music: The Fray - How To Save A Life - Acoustic Cover )

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My arms crossed over my chest; I narrowed my eyes at him. “Break a leg Dimples.” Sarcasm dripping from each word. Then I snapped my teeth at him. They thought they were whispering but I heard every word being said around us.

‘Did Embry just wink at Leah?’ #Kim asked.

‘Forget that… did he just call her Trouble, and is living to breathe still?’ #Jessica asked.

‘Wait. She just called him Dimples? Are we in the Twilight Zone right now?’ One of the pups asked.

But I didn’t pay attention, this was unlike us. But we had gone through a few things, right? He had called me a friend, right? Also, why would I kill him before payback?

As he settled himself, I got back to work. A few people still sat up at the bar, but most had moved towards the stage area. A glass in hand I was pouring an IPA when he started to play. It was nothing new to hear Call on the guitar, he was good at it.

But then… he began to sing.

The world stopped around me, the people froze and then the sounds around me were blocked out. My wolf sat up looking at him, just as I was she was speechless too. The door opened and a breeze of wind kissed my hot cheeks, making my skin react in a way I wasn’t sure of. His voice... it was… his voice… he could sing? Really well… the Spirits…. Tilting my head to the side as the words of the song he picked settled in my mind. Another song I knew so well.

‘Leah… Leah…’ a cool hand moved over mine to stop the tap.

“Spirits.” The IPA had over run. And I hadn’t even noticed it.

‘It’s okay, I’ll get the cloth.’ #Charlie said. And I was thankful that all eyes were on the stage and on Embry.

The local girls and some townies swooned, their bodies moving towards the stage. I shook my head, getting a fresh glass. As much as I didn’t want to listen, the more I was drawn into the sound. It was just like the first time I had watched him playing the piano.

‘Did you know he was this good?’ #Mac was the one to ask me. And I just shook my head.

‘He 𝙞𝙨 really good.’ #Charlie added.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I'd chosen the song because it was easy enough to sing, I could play it on the guitar in my sleep. But her... In #Harry's namesake bar, surrounded by these people. Leah stood there behind the bar she literally bled for… to get what she needed to give this to her little brother.

After seeing her with blood splattered across her face... After learning everything she'd gone through alone...

"𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘨𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨?

𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵

𝘏𝘢𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦."

They struck deep. I had let her down all those years.

There were a few shocked faces in the crowd... and from the people that knew me... #Quil held up the tablet and I knew my mom and #Bear were watching.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I had moved towards the door at the back of the bar, resting my shoulder on the door frame. Listening to the words, the sound of the music, but more so. I moved here to feel and hear those who spoke over the wind. They were here, they were listening, they were feeling it all. They moved over the floor towards him, touching him to tell him.

‘𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕖..’

Even if he didn’t hear them, I knew they were with him. The words of the song started to settle on my heart and mind.

𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵

𝘏𝘢𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

And I knew… I was reading into something that wasn’t there. He hadn’t thought of me as a friend, not until recently. And ever since, he’d been there, shown up when I least expected him too. And yet music always spoke to me in a way people’s words never could.

↬ Embry Call ↫

The door of the bar opened and a soft breeze swept my hair across my face for a moment, until it swung closed again... but long enough for that phantom hand on my shoulder to make itself known.

It was then that I noticed the stunned faces were ones of happy surprise. My eyes dropped to the guitar in my hands and for a second, I could have sworn I smelled my grandmother's perfume. I smiled... I was singing in public and smiling?

I heard the message I had unknowingly meant to deliver when I chose this song out of a world of music I could have picked from. I searched Leah out in the crowd... she tended to get a little lost when she listened to music... the way I did when I played.

Something else I had overlooked for too long.

This was how I told myself that was over. She wasn't alone anymore. Whether she liked it or not.

The song ended and the pack were the first to start clapping.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

He was happy, he was smiling, even if his heart had been beating hard, there was an ease to it now. When I looked up again, my eyes found him looking right back, with those dark brown eyes of his, which took me off guard. I hadn’t expected him to seek me out in a bar full of people. I wasn’t used to being seen.

When the sound of clapping came, it took me a blink of an eye to pull those walls up and correct myself. With everybody’s attention on Call and the stage. It wasn’t hard to put my mask in place. The song was still humming in my mind, but then my gaze moved to the guitar he was holding. It wasn’t the one he brought out to the meetings, or the nights they were all at the beach or on the cliffs. It was white, with a painted dove sat on a branch of flowers. And when I thought back to what he whispered before he started to play and sing… The realisation struck me.

‘It’s Chenoa’s guitar.’ My wolf whispered and I knew it had to be. He was calling on his nana for her support and he was playing her guitar on the stage of #HwH. Embry Call had become the first person to play and sing in the bar we had opened to keep our fathers name alive, and something made him bring his nana’s instrument with him. There was something cathartic about learning this.

‘Gohiyudi ( Faith ), the path he is walking is bringing it all to light slowly.’ I heard the whisper of #TheGreatWolf in my mind. And I knew it to be true. But what path was it? and what did it have to do with his Nana and my Father?

↬ Embry Call ↫

#Tony came up to the edge of the stage and I handed him the guitar. There weren't many people I would hand this guitar to... but he was on that shortlist. Quil was there with the tablet and quickly blew a kiss to two of my favourite girls on the screen, but now it was time to do the job I had actually done this for.

#Tony was admiring the hand-painted dove on the Gibson. Not that I could blame him, it was a beautiful instrument… "Alright!!" I aid into the mic when I stepped back in front of the mic. "Now that's over let it never be said that Embry Call welches on a bet!" I laughed and took the mic from its stand.

"I would like to thank #Tony for the introduction, and stick around guys… Because he will be up later tonight and it’s not a show you want to miss. But tonight, is all about the music and the performers on this very, very special night. The very first Open Mic night here at Harry's Watering Hole... So, I feel like it is only right, to raise a glass..." I waved over #Seth, and he brought me a beer. "To the man himself... Harry. Never far from our thoughts" I held up the beer and smiled pointedly at Leah. Then lean forward to clink my bottle to the one in #Seth's hand.

Cheers of Harry's name rang out through the room.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes moved over the crowd as they all cheered and lapped up all Embry Call had to offer. Rolling my eyes when he said that he had paid up, I couldn’t help but feel he had been holding out. Had #MsC known that he could sing like that? Of course, she must have.

‘Leah, could you grab some of the tonic waters from the back?’ #Charlie asked, bringing me out of my head.

“Sure, is there anything else you need?” I wasn’t used to stepping back from the bar, and this had become a busy night. But the guy’s had it in hand.

‘No, that’s all thanks.’ He told me as I pushed off the frame, I froze.

Half turning my head back to the stage where Embry called out my Da. My heart stopped, and a lump grew in my throat when he found my eyes again. I had been thinking of Da, and now he was calling his name out as were the people in this bar? Some who knew him so well, and others who didn’t. But his name was being whispered on the air, and I knew it would travel with the Spirits back to his ears.

Clearing my throat, I didn’t do or say anything. Just found myself disappearing into the back and into the store room.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Everyone in the bar raised a glass or bottle and clinked against their companions, murmurs of respect and cheers of #Harry's name rang out. I wasn't surprised or offended by Leah making a swift exit. It had less to do with me than it did with her need to be alone with her feelings.

"Yup, next tonight we have and Fork's local Joshua Weber coming at you with an original song. Let's him a proper La Push greeting ladies and germs! Josh Weber!!" I called out enthusiastically into the mic and people clapped as #Josh stepped on the stage. I shook his hand before he took a seat on the stool in front of the mic.

I waited until he started to play before I motioned to #Mac for another beer. I want to the back to find Leah. Making good on that promise not to let her be unseen anymore.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

So much was changing.

‘Evolving’ my wolf corrected my thought. ‘It’s evolution Leah, growth. Something you tell the pups they need all the time. So why not the wolves too?’

Pushing the door to the store room open with my shoulder, I stepped inside turning the light on. The single bulb hung in the middle of the room, casting its light over the room like a ray of sunlight in a dark day.

‘That’s a little poetic for you.’ She huffed at me. ‘Don’t hide now, it was a nice thing Embry did. A sign of respect towards a man who gave him as much as he did you.’

I wasn’t mad at Call; it wasn’t something I could explain. How I felt when I heard the name of my father. It wasn’t anger; it was shame. At the sin I carry on my shoulders.

‘Not you sin Leah. Not—‘ she cut off as the sound of footsteps came from behind and his scent too.

I took a deep breath; how did he always manage to find me? . Continuing to look for what I came in out for.

“Is it fair payment if you knew you could sing?” I said without lifting my voice.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I chuckled when she turned to face me. "I never said I 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟'𝕥 sing. I said I 𝕕𝕚𝕕𝕟'𝕥 sing." My heart was still unsettled from being on the stage... not the talking part... that was no problem... but singing.

"Make my hands go clammy... and my heart race... " I shook my head and laughed. Holding out the beer to her. "I do not like it one bit!" And she was being overly complimentary... at best my voice was below average.

I knew she wouldn't want to toast to Harry... she'd had a moment alone with her thoughts. I held up my bottled and smiled at her. "To the music."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

His heart stuttered, and I narrowed my eyes at him. Embry Call was one of the most confident in the pack. There was never a time I saw him react this way. Well, other than the time he looked up from the piano in his moms house, to find me stood in the door watching him play. How Mom had been the one to break the silence then.

“Hmm… Is a difference is there?” He was playing on words now, the way I did so often. He was learning that was for sure.

He held out a beer to me, making me raise my eyebrow. The sound of a new voice came from the front of the bar as the new guy started to sing. Looking from him to the bottle, I stepped up taking it, clinking it to his.

“To the music.” This I could toast without feeling like he was seeing something he shouldn’t. Taking a mouthful of the chilled beer.

↬ Embry Call ↫

She knew there was, she knew as much as I did, those words set to music always said a thousand times more than anything else. "You know there is." I saw what music did to her. That faraway look she got.

I tapped the neck of my bottle to hers when she reached out, giving her a smile before I drank. #Josh's voice was still travelling through the bar. "I better get out there before he's done." I almost reached and put my hand on her arm... but u thought better of it and dragged the raised hand through my hair instead.

"See you out there." I smiled and made my way back out front. Leaving her alone with her thoughts, I didn't need to hover to show her I saw her. #Seth was busy at the bar but paused for a second to give me a quizzical look. I just smiled and took up a spot next to the stage.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“Hmm… maybe.” I said taking another gulp from the bottle before looking back over his shoulder.

Why had he come in here? To give me a beer? It wasn’t necessary. So…

“Yeah, you should.” I agreed with him when he said about returning to the front, and then he was gone.

I rubbed my neck pushing my hair back and over one shoulder. What was that about? I asked myself once again.

Finishing off the beer, I set the bottle down to the side. I would put it into the recycling later. Right now, I grabbed the cases #Charlie had asked for, returning to the front of house again.

‘Life saver Leah.’ #Charlie came to take the tonics from me. And I saw the kid give me a look.

“You, okay?” I asked him in a low whisper.

‘Yeah… You?’ He replied, then his gaze moved to the stage.

“Always.” Picking up an empty tray, the guys had the bar covered so I went to work on gathering the empties and listening to the guy on stage.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I knew that Leah was back out front, I heard her talking to #Seth. But I didn't look for her because I didn't have to. But also, because #Tony came up next to me, still holding my Nana's guitar.

"Dude." I chuckled. "I thought you were going to put that away for me."

#Tony gave me that look... the deeply thoughtful look he got when he had something to say... I wondered if it was something to with my singing. 'Do you know what this is?" HE raised the guitar slightly holding it in both had like it was delicate glass.

"It's my grandmother’s guitar." I said dryly.

'This is a limited run Gibs--' I cut him off... the awe in his eyes telling me he was about to say something I couldn't unhear.

"Tony." I was firm but not cruel. "It's my grandmothers guitar."

'Bry this is--' He started again.

"No... #Ton... I don't--" Joshua stopped sing and I looked at my friend again. "I gotta go. Please put it in the case for me." I clapped for josh and fixed a smile on my face as i climbed onto the stage to bring on the next act.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘Leah!’ #Emily reached out, she didn’t touch me but just wanted me to stop beside her.

‘This is amazing, you all have done so well. Thank you —‘ holding my hand up, I shook my head.

“You have nothing to thank me for. You just needed a night out. So enjoy it.” Leaving her I went towards the bar with my tray full of empties. Setting them down, I didn’t mean to listen. I wasn’t searching out their voices. But I heard #Tony and Call.

Frowning as I set the glasses into the washer. What was Tony trying to tell him? But Call, clearly didn’t want to know. My feet started to move before I could stop them and the next thing, I knew I was stood before #Tony.

“Hey #Tony.” Nodding to the guitar. “Let me take that from you. I’ll put it in the case and back in the office.”

Holding my hand out, showing the man this may sound like a question, but it was an order.

#Tony looked up at the stage towards Call and then to the guitar, and then to me again. Reluctantly he handed it over. “Now, don’t forget to get yourself a drink.”

My face had that look telling those in my way to move, and they did. The guitar held close to my body; I grabbed the case on my way. Taking them back into the office.

↬ Embry Call ↫

The next act up was one of the pups I had convinced to sing and another on guitar. Telling them it was for the good of the pack, making sure #Seth and Leah's big event was successful.

After I introduced them, I saw Leah taking the guitar from #Tony and taking it to the back. I knew the second #Tony mentioned the words 𝓁𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝑒𝒹𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 that he was going to tell me something about the Gibson's value. But it wasn't just an instrument to me...

When the pups stepped up onto the stage, I took a seat next to #Sam and #Emily, giving Emily a kiss on her scarred cheek. "It's great to see you out for others." I smiled at her.

'There was no way I was going to miss seeing you and the boys perform.' She set her hand on the back of mine. 'You really do take after your Nana.' My heart skipped. I forgot that #Emily would have heard her singing in Neah Bay. 'Stop hiding your light Embry Call.'

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I set the case on my desk and opened it with one hand, the other was still holding the guitar in it. The way Call had spoken to #Tony was out of character for him. He wasn’t rude to the guy, but at the same time he didn’t want to hear what #Tony had to say about the instrument. I think I could understand why. Sometimes the value and the recognition of an object, lay in the heart and soul.

I placed it down carefully into his case, but I couldn’t stop my fingers lightly glide over the painted flowers and the dove. It made me smile a little. The Dove was not painted on, from afar that was what it looked like. It was in fact made of Mother of Pearl. The shine and the glimmer under even the dim light in the office couldn’t hide its beauty. Closing the case, I left it sitting on the desk, before returning out to the bar.

“Hey, do you guys want to take a break? I’m happy to take over.” #Mac and #Charlie both stepped out from behind, leaving #Seth and I. But unlike other times when they would head in the back, or outside they moved toward the stage to watch. The two pups who were up there were talented, they had the crowd pulled in.

‘Leah…’ #Tony stepped up to the bar, and I poured him a drink. ‘I’m sorry.’ He looked a little lost, glancing back towards where Call was. ‘I wasn’t trying to… it’s just…’

Setting the glass down in front of him, I motioned him to come in closer.

“Sometimes Ton, we are all happy with what we know. He didn’t mean anything by it, you know what he is like. But something tells me, he is happy with what he knows of the guitar maybe?”

Who was I to know?

↬ Embry Call ↫

#Seth seemed delighted about how the night was going but Leah... I grinned to myself. She was being... well Leah. I shook my head, instead of saying what I thought out loud, I pulled out my phone and text her.

To Leah - [𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝. 𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎. 𝙻𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝.]

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and turned back to chat with #Tony. 'How come I've never seen these two guys play before?' He asked watching the pups.

"They just only really sing at parties and tribal meetings... When we get together at my house." I answered. But the kids really were good.

'Seems to be a lot of hidden talent around here.' #Tony gave me a look. I smiled, nudging him with an elbow. "Shut up."

'You've been with me and band before... you never told me you could sing like that.' He raised a brow.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I set a fresh cold one in front of Call, and another soda in front of #Tony, the two were listening to the pups so I just knocked on the bar, so they knew their drinks were there.

“Who’s next?” combing my fingers through my hair, I combed it over one shoulder as a group of townie girls stepped up to order.

The song the pups were performing, had my lips moving until I locked down. But I knew I was okay as all eyes were on the stage. I got to making the #StarlightCalling a group of girls had ordered with, 1 ounce Vodka, 2 fluid ounce cranberry juice, 1 ounce hibiscus liqueur, with a splash of sours and a twist of Juniper and Orange.

Stopped before I shook the cocktail, as my phone buzzed. Normally I’d not look at it, but with everyone here but Jake and a few pups I wanted to make sure everything was okay.

Raising my eyebrow, I read the text twice. What was it with him and this thing he had about living in the now and in the moment?

‘It’s not a bad lesson to have.’ My wolf mused.

To Embry Call - [𝙽𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚜 -𝙻]

Hitting send I got back to work.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I didn’t know why but… I tuned into the kid's heartbeats while they played. They were fine… As far as I was aware they hadn’t been on a stage like this before and they were… Fine. How? My brow crinkled but I applauded with the crowd as they finished and headed up on the stage to bring on the next act.

“Up next we have a performer all the way of Port Angeles. And you have the joy of experiencing the beauty of an Open Mic Night. It's not all about singers and songwriters. On a night like this, you get to experience performances ranging from all kinds of genres. So, let's give a proper La Push welcome to Chloe who is going to play the keyboard.” I smiled and looked through the crowd.

As she weaved her way through shyly and mounted the stage. She looked nervous so I placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her as I led her to the bench by the keyboard, angled to face the clapping crowd.

She started to play, and I headed back to the bar. Checking my phone when I got there and laughed.

( Music: Maroon 5 - Memories (Piano Cover) - Toms Mucenieks )

I leaned on the bar and spoke almost into the beer bottle. “Leah… What's the story with the girl with the violin? Do you think she’ll play?” I knew all the Spirit Warriors in the room that cared to listen would hear me.

I mean… she must have wanted to… she did bring the instrument with her after all.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Applause erupted across the bar, and #Seth whistled high nearly taking our eardrums out. Closing one eye, I tilted my head away from the sound. “Kid. Chill out.” But I didn’t mean it with malice. This was a big deal for the pups, they hadn’t played like this I didn’t think. For the Elders, the pack, the imprints sure. But people who they drank with? Nope.

#Mac and #Charlie made their way back from the table they had been sharing with #Jessica and some of the others. Both grabbed trays and started walking the floor correcting the empties, as I glanced over to the girl who Embry had introduced.

I shook my head at the way some of the pups leant forward towards the bar when she sat down, her eyes glued on Call, and then the keyboard. The moment she started to play, the lyrics of the song were right there, however she was playing it on a different tempo. And I liked it.

𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵

𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵

'𝘊𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴

𝘖𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩

𝘛𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺

𝘛𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺

'𝘊𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣��𝘤𝘬, 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶

Setting beers and some shots down one the bar, my ears picked up my name. Chewing on the inside of my cheeks I thought for a moment before turning my back to find the bourbon.

“Sumina? Jess said she isn’t the kind to step up. Maybe you can use that charm you were born with on helping the girl?” My voice was low, only for our ears.

Embry had a point. #Sumina had come this far, she had brought the violine with her. “But don’t push too hard. If not tonight, she could try again next time.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I listened to Leah as she spoke and kept working. I took a breath this girl looked like the broken bird type… The easily intimidated type. But there was something about her… and the quiet ones were always the ones that were overflowing with talent. I glanced at the guy beside me and smiled to myself.

I caught #Jessica’s attention and motioned her over with a nod. “Jess.” I smiled and heard #Tonys breathing stop as he noticed her. “Will you keep my buddy #Tony company?… I gonna try to convince your friend to get up and play for us.”

#Jess looked over at the girl still clutching at her instrument case. ‘Be nice!’ #Jessica had a fire in her eyes, that instantly vanished when she turned to #Tony and introduced herself. Now he looked like a broken bird.

I made my way over to the girl and took a seat on the stool next to her, trying to make myself seem shorter… I failed. “Hi.” I smiled at her. “I’m Embry.”

‘I know.’ The girl almost whispered. Of course, she did… the whole Rez knew who I was.

“So… I see you brought a violin tonight? But you aren’t on my list. Do you want to play?” I tried to make my voice gentle… It felt weird. The girl shifted.

“Okay, I’ll be straight with you. Leah and #Seth are both counting on me to make tonight amazing for the bar and the locals… And I really don’t want to let them down. I have an empty slot I need to fill. So, is there any way to get you to go up there tonight?”

It was a lie I would have to find somewhere to fit her in… but my gut was telling me there was a little bit of magic inside this timid creature.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

#Paul came to stand beside the bar, his eyes moving back to his wife at the count of every ten. “You know if you can’t stand to be ten feet from your wife, you could have just called over for the next round.”

He was a pain in my arse on most days. But when it came to #Rachel, #Paul was more than himself in every way. ‘That’s what I said to Rach, but she said I had to come and get the drinks.’

‘I got this one sis.’ #Seth stepped up with four bottles of beers and started to gather the sodas too.

“The cocktails too?” I looked at the kid with a raised eyebrow.

‘Nope, that’s you and Char.’ I smacked him upside his head and started on the next cocktail order.

‘Who is the girl ‘Bry is hitting on?’ #Paul asked and I shook my head, now glad that I wasn’t dealing with that one.

‘She went to school with Jess. Summer or something?’ #Seth replied. It wasn’t like they couldn’t all hear the conversation.

‘He doesn’t want to let you and Leah down? Since when?’ #Paul was teasing knowing he was being heard.

‘Have you seen my face? Who would want to let me down?’ #Seth countered.

My attention had refocussed on #Tony who now had a big smile on his face as he spoke to #Jessica.

‘Seth and Leah are my cousins…’ She was telling him when I heard their conversation. #Tony’s eyes darted up to find me, as I acted like I didn’t hear a thing, working on my drinks. But that look he was giving me, taking in the difference in the two Clearwater women he was glancing between.

↬ Embry Call ↫

The girl's mouth opened and closed a few times like she was about to say something, but no words came out. "Do you have any music with you?" The question was out before I'd really thought about it.

'Um...' she nodded. 'Yes, I do."

Words! we were making progress. She pulled out an old weather piece of sheet music. and held it out to me. I smiled and opened it, my eyes running along the bars... I knew this on. But the sheer state of this I had a feeling she would play it with her eyes closed.

I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my wallet. pulling out a thickly folded sheet of music too. I handed hers back. "That's your favourite right?" She nodded. and I handed her mine, twice as battered as hers. "This is mine."

'I thought you played the guitar.' If it weren’t for my heightened hearing, I'd barely have heard her. It was hard to ignore the conversation on the other side of the bar too. "I do... but I was reading music before I could read." I laughed.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Rolling my eyes at #Paul, and his questions I set the cocktails in a tray in front of him.

“Here why don’t you take these to the table.” Pointing to the table behind him. “Do something helpfully instead of gossiping like an old mamma in the Rez.”

He grinned at me. ‘You just want my fine arse to service your customers Clearwater.’ Earring him another roll of my eyes, but he went and did it for us. By the time he came back, his drinks were ready.

‘Want to take your break now Sis?’ #Seth asked. I shook my head telling him he could go. ‘You know Mac and Char have got this. We can both go now.’

“I will after I get a few more drinks out.” I told him.

But I was staying close to see if #Jessica needed an out. As well as to listen in on how Call spoke to the girl.

#Jess seemed to be happy talking to #Tony a hundred miles a minute, and #Sumina, she had actually spoken to him.

Fighting the urge to look over towards them, I couldn’t help it in the end and saw the page he had handed to her, and then taking one out of his own. I hadn’t known that Embry Call kept a page of music in his wallet.

Something else I had never noticed around him.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I pried a few more words from #Sumina and I smiled at her as we spoke about the music. She held out the music to me refolding it back along the same lines as it had been folded into all these years in my wallet.

"Why don't you hand to that... pick what you would like to play tonight. If you did decide to get up there and then come find me and let me know?" I tilted my head slightly. "No pressure... Even if you decide against playing come tell me what you would choose. Just remember... you would be doing me a huge favour."

I let the blushing girl mull over my words and I caught #Charlie's attention. "Put this lovely ladies drinks on my tab for the rest of the night will you?" The new guys smiled and nodded.

'Oh, I don't drink.' she said softly.

"That's ok... but whatever you drink tonight is on me. Enjoy the show." I moved back over to #Tony and #Jessica she was laughing and touching #Tony's arm, He was bright red.

"You almost ready to go up Tony?" I asked retaking my seat.

'Are you singing tonight? Why didn't you tell me!?" #Jess beamed. And #Tony looked like a man that wanted to say. 'You never gave me a chance." But he was too busy trying not to stare at the girl.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My phone buzzed in my pocket, I set the glasses on the bar taking the money from the girls. “Take it slow girls, it’s stronger than it tastes.” They were already red in their cheeks, giggling and their eyes moving over to the pups. Yeah… #Charlies cocktail was giving them all Dutch courage.

‘Sis are you looking at this?’ #Seth jumped up onto the back counter.

“Look at what?” Holding up the bottles of beers I had in my hand. “This is what I am looking at right now.”

‘The socials are blowing up. I just sent you a video of Call singing. He is trending in Forks and the surrounding areas.’ He was giving me that smile that he did when he wasn’t sure how I would take things. And he was right. Setting the bottles down, I took his phone to watch the video.

The Kid was right, and it was Call on stage. He was playing and singing, lost in the moment. The song was perfect for him, then I scrolled the comments and laughed. “They think he is cute? Don’t they hear him singing? Talented? A performer… no… but cute?” Shaking my head. When I looked up #Seth was still waiting for it. “What?” I asked.

‘Nothing…. Just….’ My kid brother shrugged his shoulders.

I knew what he was getting at. “Yeah… You still need to go and find this girl and have her take the video down…. But… let Call have a moment…” I felt #Sam come around the bar.

“I know…” I told #Sam holding a hand up. “Just give Call the night, let him see it and then the kid will sweet talk the girl into taking it down.” The look #Sam gave me was priceless, he just stood there smirking at me. “Stop it.” I muttered at him.

‘What? I didn’t say anything.’ He muttered back.

“Words.. no… But that face… Yeah…” Growling at him jokingly.

We couldn’t have Call online locally. Today… sure it was fine, maybe in a month and a year, but online videos had a way to resurface. And it would be hard to explain in ten- or twenty-years’ time why Call still looked the same if he hadn’t given up his Spirit.

Call had returned to the bar and sat beside #Tony and #Jessica. ‘And maybe Ton’s will blow up with his performance?’ #Seth whispered.

‘Doesn’t matter, we need that video down before the night is out.’ #Sam said and then with a handful of beers went back to his wife and their table.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I smiled between the two of them and nodded. "Oh yeah... #Tony here has a band. They're really good." I tapped #Jessica's shoulder. "Next time I'm going to a proper gig of his you should come along #Jess."

'Please!' She rolled her eyes at me. 'Like I would ruin my reputation being seen alone with a scoundrel like you!' Her expression softened like some flipped a switch and she bounced on the balls of her feet. '#Tony can take me!' her voice rising in pitch. 'You'd take me, wouldn't you? It would be so cool to see you play with a whole band!'

And boom! there it was! Of course, in #Jessica's mind, this meant nothing more than going to see him play.... but #Tony was one of those guys that to know him was to love him... one way or another... I just needed to make sure he didn't trap himself in the friend zone.

I had been so focused on them that I hadn't heard much of the conversation behind me before I had to get back on the stage to bring #Tony on.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘Break?’ #Seth asked me again and this time I nodded my head in agreement.

‘Why do you need back up with a loca?’ #Mac was the one to tease him, and smack him in the middle of his shoulder blades.

The kid of course played the part well, acting like #Mac’s hand stung him when we knew it was impossible.

‘Here, take a beer.’ #Charlie slid two bottles to us and pushed us out from behind the bar.

Standing there my eyes took another wonder around the place. #Seth and #Mac had been right; this was working well. Bringing the bottle to my mouth I almost choked when I overheard my younger cousin call Embry Call a 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙡.

“She has the Clearwater BSdar, that was for sure.

‘Leah? Did you know Tony could sing?’ #Jessica asked me as I walked past them.

I combed my fingers through my hair, rolling my eyes at them. “Yeah, I knew, and… he is pretty good too.”

#Jessica’s hand flew up to rest on her chest. ‘In Leah language that means you’re amazing.’

#Tony’s cheeks and ears burnt a deep crimson and his eyes fell on the soda he was nursing.

“I said no such thing.” I muttered making my way to the far side of the stage, finding a spot in the dark and out of the way.

My breaks were always taken outside, with the night, the Spirits, and the moon if she was up. But tonight, I’d sit by a window instead, I wasn’t going to miss out on the atmosphere created by a live performance.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I climbed up onto the stage applauding the act that had just finished. I pulled the mic off the stand and grinned out at the crowd. "Okay people.... Now we have a real treat for you we have another talented singer-songwriter coming up to perform another original song for us."

I caught #Tony's gaze as he swiped his hand across his throat telling me to stop. He had signed up with a Hozier cover... But there was no way I was letting him sell himself short like that. Even if he played and sang that song brilliantly.

"Let's give up for #Tony singing Only When I'm With You." People clapped and I watched #Jess nudge a tomato red #Tony towards the stage. Ever the professional he moved, even though I had blindsided him he leaned in as I passed him at the side of the stage. I didn't give him the chance to speak. "Don't think, Ton... just play. Trust me."

Tony stepped up and started to play.

(Music: Warren Attwell "Only When I'm With You" )

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Climbing up onto a table I sat with my back against the wall and the window open. Combing my fingers through my hair I pulled it over one shoulder, letting the cool breeze dance over my hot skin. I turned the cap of the bottle and opened it, taking a long drag before I turned my attention back into the room.

My eyes moved over all the pack who were here, the imprints they were all having a good time. My lips curled up when I saw #Quil still talking on the tablet, #Bear, #MsC and Ma were still on and watching. I’d expected them to log off once Call was done, but from the conversation I could hear they were enjoying the show. #MsC, got a little excited when she saw #Tony taking the stage.

My eyes followed something happening between Call and #Tony. Something was off there, a conversation without a 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯? And when he started to play and sing, it was all forgotten.

I glanced at #Jessica, who had taken a seat next to #Emily. Whispering in her ear and smiling. So, it was fair to say she was okay with the introduction to #Tony. She sat forward listening to him singing, the guy was good. He was really good.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I watched #Tony smiling and waiting for that moment where he let the music take over. The second the calm came over him, #Jessica started to toy with the necklace she was wearing, and I grinned. I knew she was a good pick... even though she was one of those obviously beautiful types.

I looked around to see where Leah was, and I spotted her by the window and smiled... I knew she would appreciate the song, it was one she never would have heard before.

But #Sumina seemed to be edging her way towards me trying to get my attention and not at the same time. I gave her a smile and motioned her over. she weaved through people to get to me, clinging to her violin. "Did you decide what to play?" I asked assuming that she would.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Closing my eyes, I sat there trying to place the song. But I couldn’t. Why? I knew most the music people would pick to listen to, not this one…

𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐'𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶... 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺....

‘Just let go, isn’t that what Call asked you to do? Listen and take it in.’ My wolf lay her head down, listening with me.

𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦....

I heard turned my head towards the outside when I heard his bike coming down the street, it wasn’t long before he’d pulled up and his eyes found mine looking back at him. He came slowly running over to the window, resting his elbows on the ledge.

‘Did I miss her?’ #Jake asked leaning in, and I shook my head, now understanding why #Jarde had left.

“No, you are in time.” I told him, as he pointed towards my beer, and I handed it to him.

‘Thanks, I need a drink.’ He downed it all in one. ‘Who is the guy singing, he is really good.’ He asked.

“A friend of Call’s, and he is...” The two of just watched and listened to #Tony, and then the crowd erupted clapping and cheering when he was done.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Looked around to catch Nessie's eye, she was waiting for me to spot her and nodded her head approvingly at me. She knew she was meant to go on next, but she clearly approved of me squeezing the girl in between the two of them.

I spotted #Jake coming in and grinned. I knew he wasn't going to miss her hitting the stage. Even if he heard her sing all the time... tonight was different. The way for Leah and #Seth... and #Harry was in everyone's mind tonight too.

The crowd went crazy for #Tony and I called too... whistling and cheering for him. #Jessica gripped my arm and squeezed with her tiny hand. 'He's so good!' If it wasn't for my heightened hearing, I wouldn't have heard a word. I nodded and smiled in the way that said I told you so.

As I headed back up to bring on #Sumina, hugged #Tony as we passed each other. "Told you!" I said. "Go let Jessica buy you a drink." He looked at me confused. "Just do it." Patted his shoulder and stepped back up to the mic.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

#Jake went up behind #Ness, but of course she knew he was there at the same time as I did. Still the way he engulfed her and lifted her off her feet, had me shaking my head. These two were always expressive, as I guess were all the wolves and their imprints.

After seeing #Sumina moving towards the stage, I moved my eyes outside again, listening to the whispers on the air who were happy and contend with the way these things were going.

‘Here you go.’ I jerked my head back into the bar and looked at the man stood beside me holding a bottle of beer out on offer.

Raising my eyebrow at the townie, I tilted my head to the side. ‘I saw how you gave your beer to your friend.’ He gestured towards #Jake.

“You have a keen eye, but if that’s true you would know that I work here so I have all the drink I want.” Now he gave me a pearly white smile.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Grinned seeing #Ness and #Jake when I stepped up the mic, people were still clapping. "Thank you very much #Tony! Everybody should watch this space because there's a good chance this guy will be back here with his band and full setlist very, very soon."

I watched #Tony made his way to #Jessica with a broad smile and I really hoped he'd ask her for her number before the night was out. But that was one step I couldn't push him to. He had to get there on his own... or maybe #Jessica would.

"And up is another local talent, from right here in La Push. Playing an old, beautiful classic on violin... Please welcome. Sumina." I had no idea what her last name was. She hesitated at the side of the stage, so I reached out my hand and helped her step up. I lowered the mic for her and gave her an encouraging smile and whispered. "Just breathe." as she settled the violin against her collarbone."

As I stepped down, I heard the line Leah gave the guy that was coming on to her and I laughed to myself.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“ Violin…” of course that’s what was in the case. It hadn’t really occurred to me until now, it was the perfect instrument for such a shy girl.

#Sumina took a couple of deep breaths, she listens to Call’s advice.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone play the violin.’ The guys voice brought my attention back to him. He was still stood before me with the bottle held out.

“Well, here’s a good time to educate yourself in some culture.” I took the bottle of beer, but I didn’t drink from it.

‘And she takes the beer finally.’ He teased shifting his weight, attempting to sit down on the table beside me.

“She has… but she didn’t invite you to join her… so, thanks for the drink… I’m going it alone tonight. I don’t 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮 where I work or live.”

↬ Embry Call ↫

I kept my eyes on the girl on the stage. She took a deep breath and lifted the bow. AS soon as she started to play I found #Quil.... it was late but Mom and #Sue were still on the screen and #Claire looked sleepy on the other half of the screen.

'Her Mom said it was okay." he assured me.

"Make sure they see this." They could really hear us over the sounds of the bar so I typed out. [This one is for you Mom.] and hit send. I heard Leah blow the guy and went back to where she stood. Stepping between her and the guy and perching on the table where he had attempted to sit.

"Who says you have to go it alone?... there's talk among the pup about heading to the sanctuary after closing... you could join us when you're done here." I spoke to her and completely ignored the guy.

#Sumina made the bar fall silent other than her playing.

(Music: J. S. Bach: g-minor Sonata No. 1: Siciliana | Sumina Studer )

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Raising my eyebrow, I watched Call interject. He put himself between something he would never have. The guy looked between us in shock, lost for words. And knew he was dismissed.

My first instinct was to bite his head off.

‘Don’t you dare...’ she growled inside of me. Making me internally roll my eyes at her.

Parting my lips l, I stopped myself from saying what I was. He was inviting me to the sanctuary again?

The sanctuary was the Nick given to #Quil and Call’s home. They had an open-door policy ( as in the door was always open ), for the pups and anyone who needed some place to go. It had been the only place the pack had until #Seth and I opened #HwH.

“Maybe…”

Is all I said because #Sumina started to play, and the sounds whispered to me, and I was pulled into listening to just her.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I smirked... 𝑀𝒶𝓎𝒷𝑒... that was a new one. Further away from a 𝒩𝑜 than I was expecting... But I'd take it and wait until the end of the night.

I watched the girl play, that composition... was one my grandfather played a lot on the piano that now sat in my mother’s living room. "I knew she had a little magic in her." The thought slipped out loud without my intention to voice it.

She was amazing, and eventually, the music even took the shy, stiff stance she had in the centre of the stage. I looked over my shoulder and Leah and whispered... "It's always the quiet ones." Just before the whole bar erupted into applause and the girl turned bright red.

I rushed up to the stage to get to her before she made a run for it.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“Hmm.” A 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘, was the understatement of the moment. She was talented. The way she played took you on a journey you didn’t even know you were willing to travel.

It hadn’t been a piece that I knew, but it was going to be one that would become a part of my life.

I broke the magical connection with the music when she stopped and turned my eyes to Call.

“The open books too...” I whisper right back at him. He hadn’t asked, and I wasn’t going to divulge information. But he had taken the stage by storm too.

‘Leah?’

I heard my name being called from behind the bar, so jumping down I made my way back to work. The sound of the violin unforgotten.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I rested my hand on the stunned girl's shoulder as she backed away from the mic. "That was amazing!" I smiled at her and then stepped up the mic. "Ladies and gentlemen! One more time for Sumina!!"

She managed a smile and slipped away off of the stage. "Well, it looks like we'll be ending this night on one hell of a high note! Because we have yet another hidden gem for you all. The #HWH is proud to present to you... Nessie Cullen!!!"

People clapped and I watched her spin her tiny form around in #Jake's arm and kiss him before she slipped free ad made her way up the stage.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Patting #Seth on his shoulder when I walked past the table of girls he was sat on. Charming them with his smile, but I knew what he was doing.

‘Need me back?’ He asked, the girls pouting up at me hoping the answer was No.

“Nah, we can manage.” I replied and continued to the bar.

My head turned back again, and I smirked. I hadn’t thought that #Ness would perform, she hadn’t been the kind to show off her talents. Hiding them just as her father did.

But she stepped up into the stage, smiling, a hint of rosiness visible in her cheeks.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I moved the keyboard while the pack all roared for the woman, we all watched grow up too fast. Her heart was beating fast... but that was how it always was with her... Her confidence was unshakeable. But the extra flush of pink in her cheeks made me wonder. I pulled away the stool knowing she preferred to stand when she played.

"Knock 'em dead, short-stuff." I whispered to her and stepped down and she dragged a hand through her dark hair and started to play. I went to stand with #Jake now and #Ness played, she didn't even glance at her fingers before she started to sing.

( Music: Monsters (Acoustic Version) )

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Just as I got to the bar, I had my hands around the bottle of whisky and poured out the four shots #Mac was going to grab next. ‘Thanks Lee.’ He took them from me and slid them over to his customer. I had to say, having the new guy on the team was making it so that the rest of us didn’t have to move like crazy. ( I was kind of missing it. )

As #Ness took her place, I pulled my phone out of my back pocket. Hitting my contacts and then the call button. I didn’t care about the time difference; I knew he would be up. The call was answered within two rings, and his pale face was looking back at me.

‘Leah? Is everything okay?’ #Edwards topaz eyes looked worried because I didn’t really call him unless there was a reason.

“Everything is fine.” I tapped on my ear to tell him to listen. Flipping the camera on my phone, I set it down so that he could watch and listen to his daughter. I wasn’t sure why but knowing this was #Ness’s first time up on stage. I thought he should see it in real time.

↬ Embry Call ↫

#Nessie's voice was incredible. it had this haunting quality that made everyone stop and listen. like they were doing right now.

"She's so good." I smiled leaning over to nudge #Jake with my arm. 'She's amazing' He watched her with that look he got only when she was around. 'That's my girl.' he whispered as she swayed to the music she was playing, her eyes closed as she sang.

I glanced over at Leah holding up her phone, and I knew she wasn't recording. I grinned, she really was the best of us... second maybe to her brother but it was something she never got credit for. Probably because she never asked for it.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

#Esme, #Bella, #Rose were the next to come into view of the screen. #Edward moved to give his mom the centre seat. And I knew even if the others weren’t in view of their camara, they would all be watching if they were there.

I set the phone to the side and started to move towards the other side of the bar. My ears not once listening to anything other than #Ness. The girl on stage who I had watched grow from a baby into this beautiful woman in a matter of weeks and months, was in her element. And it had been her father and her grandmother, who had taught her how to play.

‘Leah?’ #Charlie pulled my attention. ‘I’m just going to head out back for some sodas, do you need anything?’ He asked, and I shook my head. Telling him I was all good.

↬ Embry Call ↫

When I got up on the stage I stopped #Ness and whispered my idea into her ear. She nodded and looked at #Tony lingering shyly by the stage, until the pale beauty winked at him and invited him on to the stage, #Jess was standing right by the edge of the stage now.

#Ness shifted the keyboard to the end and blew #Jake a kiss. "Since you have been such a great audience tonight, we thought we would give you one last treat." I said into the mic while #Tony grabbed a bass guitar from the rear of the stage.

I stepped back and gave him the centre stage. And grabbed the gorgeous, sleek black guitar and set up behind the two of them.

"This one the dedicated to the owners and staff... without them tonight would not have been possible... So #Seth, Leah... #Mac and the new guy #Charlie. From every artist here... This one's for you.” #Tony's unshakable confidence when he stood on a stage making an instant come back.

He nodded to #Ness and she started to play the intro... then #Tony sang.

( Music: Coldest Water (Acoustic) – Walking on Cars )

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

#Seth and I exchanged looks. ‘Wasn’t Ness meant to be the end of the night?’ He was stood beside me now, and I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s Call, who even knows what’s happening in his head?” I asked picking up the tray to go grab the empties. “And Is it done?” I asked the Kid, who nodded letting me know that #Tony blew the girl away, who now had her eyes glued on the stage, and her phone was pointing out too. “So much for living in the moment.”

As there was movement on the stage, I stepped up to my phone to disconnect the call. #Esme was holding her chest and said thank you for thinking of them, but then stopped talking when they heard what we had. Raising my eyebrow when heads started to turn towards the bar. #Seth and #Mac took big bows, leaving #Charlie and I looking at each other and me rolling my eyes.

“I guess the show isn’t over.” I said to the guys and the Cullen’s, as the song started and #Tony came into himself once again. He became so much more of himself with a mic before him.

‘Sis, you like this song.’ #Seth whispered.

“I like a lot of songs.” I replied, stepping out from behind the bar. I went one way and #Charlie the other.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I couldn't help but smile as #Ness seamless harmonised with a guy she'd never sung with before. And I contributed a litter with backup up vocals. But this show was #Ness and #Tony's.

But the three of us singing and playing together brought a memory of a time when I believed that maybe this... or something similar... could have been my life. Not that I had any regrets about the path I was put on.

The crowd clapped and #Tony closed out the night with a booming;

'𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕃𝕒 ℙ𝕦𝕤𝕙!!!! 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥!!'

#Ness kissed him on the cheek, and he flushed a brighter red than I had ever seen. then she jumped... literally, jumped off the stage into #Jake's waiting arms.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Watching the three of them and the way they just seemed to know where the other would be needed. It was as though they have been performing together for a while.

‘They are so good.’ I could hear some of the pups saying and cheering.

My eyes moved to #Jake and he was lost in watching #Ness. And Embry Call….

I tilted my head to the side, finding the tablet before #Quil, #Bear was gone now. But Ma and #MsC were still watching, smiling wide as the Wife’s.

I clapped with the others, not part taking in the wolf whistling of course. Shaking my head.

Speaking out low to #Ness, telling her, her family were on my phone at the bar. I knew she heard me when she dragged #Jake towards the phone.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I clapped a hand on Tony's shoulder and grinned at him. I nodded towards #Jess... indicating for him to go to her. 'Oh, I can help out.' He offered. 'We should put some music on until the place closes.'

"I'll do it go get the girl." I grinned and shoved him toward the side of the stage gently. I move to the back of the stage to play music from the laptop hooked into the system.

I glanced back at #Jake and #Ness and the Alpha peppering her face with kisses... I wondered if he knew Leah had her parents on video chat.

Then I made my way back to my usual spot at the bar.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

#Emily and #Sam stood up. I was surprised they had made it to the end of the show. “Are you both heading out?” I asked as I last them.

‘Emma is babysitting, and Sam needs to drive her home.’ She squeezed my hand. ‘Uncle Harry would be so proud of you and Seth.’ She smiled. I nodded my head once as they said their good byes and make their way out.

‘Shots!’ #Paul jumped up and ran to the bar.

“Here comes the after show.” I muttered to #Rachel, making her laugh.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I heard what #Emily said to Leah and smiled. I stopped the pair on the way out to say good night and laughed when #Paul rushed up to the bar and shouted out for shots.

It did not take the pups long to gather around and going in. I smiled at Leah and laughed. "I think it's time to break out the 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 stuff." she knew I was talking about #Paul homemade moonshine. "To celebrate what was clearly a very successful event." I offered up as a very valid excuse.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

#Seth looked over to me and I shrugged. ‘Embry is right, we should all celebrate tonight.’

I found myself taking a few steps back. “I never want to hear those words in the same sentence again!”

Everyone who now made their way to the bar laughed. ‘Oh, come on Leah, give him a break. Embry did an amazing job.’ #Rachel pulled at his cheek and hugged his arm.

Nodding to the place, so #Seth knew where the bottle was hidden.

“I’m fine with the celebration, but nope on the rest.” Smirking, I was looking directly at him. “He did okay tonight.” That was about all he was going to get with an audience watching and listening.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I laughed at Leah... some things would never change. But I knew the reason she wasn't gushing praise was because;

A: It wasn't her style.

B: she wasn't surprised, if she didn't think I could pull off a great show she wouldn't have asked me to do it in the first place.

And C: she knew that even though I lost the bet... I'd won tonight and she would never admit that. That thought made me flash her a smug grin as her eye met mine... so many words simmered behind them.

I turned to #Rachel and #Paul and asked, pointedly making sure both #Seth and Leah heard. "What did you guys think of #Tony? Hell of a voice, right? And with his band behind him..." I shook my head and made a mind blown gesture with my hand.

'He's in a band? Leah!" #Rachel said excitedly. "You hire them for a night! it would be amazing!"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I saw the look Embry gave me, and I could hear his voice in my head. Why? Why could I hear him laughing and telling me I knew he rocked this night?

‘Keeping in mind how he has been showing up at home, are you really surprised?’ My Wolf asked. And I knew she had a point. Grabbing the tray full of empties, stopping to turn back to Rachel. I had to give Embry that glance which said 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮.

“Yeah, Tony is in a band.” Moving around #Mac to make my way into the back. “And they are already booked up, not just for a night either. #Tony and I have spoken. He is excited to have a new venue, for him and his band to test out the new stuff.”

#Mac and #Seth high-fived one another earning another eye roll.

‘This is for sure Something we should all drink too.’ #Seth pushed the glasses out. The moonshine was only for the pack, the others all got tequila. And I went to fill the glasses in the washer.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I grinned and let them all talk about #Tony. But when #Seth started to pour the shots and Leah... like always ducked out of the celebration. Because she never took her glory.

I ducked under the end of the bar and cut her off. If she was anyone but Leah... I'd have taken the glasses from her and led her back. But this was 𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕙 ℂ𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣...

So, I leaned and whispered low enough that with the music and people chattering meant that only she would hear. "This is #Seth's win, Leah... and #Mac's. Just drink with us, please?" Then I stepped out of her space... which was harder than it should be... she smelled so good... and made my way to my spot next to #Paul.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

A frown kissed my brows as they moved together. What in the name of the spirits was Call doing. A low growl was about to escape when he cut me off. But at least he didn’t dare to full on stop me.

I snapped my teeth, about to give him a comeback. But she stopped me. We turned to look at the kid, the smile and laughter, the happiness, and the joy. And then there was my friend, a true friend to both my brother and me. #Mac looked as happy as #Seth.

‘How does Embry get it, but you don’t?’ She asked. And I kept going into the back. ‘Come on Leah, why hide from the kid and Mac?’ She asked.

So, I set the tray down beside the washer. Making my way back out, I just stood to the side. The kid knew I was there right away, his shoulder brushed mine and he set a glass in front of me. ‘To an amazing success of the opening night here at #HwH.’ #Mac toasted.

↬ Embry Call ↫

That snap of her teeth made me chuckle... a little nervously... but still a chuckle. The guy all looked at me like they thought I was pushing my luck with Leah. And I was.

Oh boy, I was!! But there that impossible to ignore hand on my shoulder and that promise I made to myself to stop letting her step into the shadows all the time. Stop letting her minimise all the good she did.

I smiled when she joined us... she knew that it would mean a lot to #Seth... and I was pretty sure she wouldn't join us at the sanctuary.

I raised my glass to #Mac's toast and we all tapped our shot glasses together. Clinking my mine Leah's and #Seth's last. and we all drank, #Paul's hooch burning all the way down.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The kid turned his glass to me first. ‘To us sis, we are doing it just as we dreamt.’ It was his dream, but I was willing to anything and everything to make it happen.

His eyes moved over the bar, the pups, the wolves, the imprints. Family… friends… and the other customers too. This was for them all to have a safe place, somewhere to go and know they could be themselves. And we had done it.

My glass tapped Calls last, and I couldn’t help the pull to lean forward and smack him one up the side of his head. “You know what that is for.” I narrowed my eyes, and then downed the hell potion #Paul made for 𝙁𝙪𝙣.

Closing one eye I shook my head; the clear liquid burned a new hole down my throat.

‘Spirits Paul… are you trying to kill us?’ #Jake laughed, banging his chest.

‘It’s a good batch right? The next one is on the go’ #Paul was proud of his creation.

‘Hey, have you put up the signup sheet for the next one? Now is a good time to do it.’ #Tony mentioned.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"Hey!!!" I flinched away from her but she got me... she always got me. "Okay... I deserved that. Kind of!" I had shoved my way into her space again. But if I had to take a few lumps to prove to her that I saw her... I was okay with that.

I laughed patting #Paul's back. "It has a kick, that's for sure." I glanced around the bar... the club didn't even open on Monday night because business was so slow... this place was full, and it had been for the whole show.

Hopefully, the takings at the bar would be just as good at the weekend. I spotted #Sumina slipping out the front door and I patted a shoulder to catch up with her and thank her for playing... and hopefully get her back When Leah did this again.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘You deserved a lot more. Lee is being nice to you.’ #Jake added, his arms moving around #Ness, pulling her back into his chest.

‘Thank you, Leah.’ #Ness slipped my phone back over the bar and I took it pushing it into my pockets. ‘Grandma Esme said she will reach out soon.’ Whatever that meant.

I saw #Sumina picking up her case, sheepishly she weaved her way towards the door, and I made to step out of the bar. Stopped short when I saw Call do the same thing.

He was better at the peep talk think, the girl had done really well. He would get it across to her. So, I turned and went back to collecting the empties.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I stepped out into the cool night air and realised how warm it had been inside. "Sumina." I called to her, stopping the few pups that were gathered outside, away from the heat inside I would imagine... from chattering. The girl stopped and tucked her dark hair behind her and gripped her arm nervously.

"You were amazing tonight." I said with a smile.

'Oh...' she squeaked. 'Um... t-thank you.'

"My mom was too sick to be here, but my friend had her video chat watching the show. Her dad used to play that composition on the piano. So, I know you brought her a lot of joy." The girl actually smiled at that.

'Is he flirting with Sumina?'

'No way!'

'She's so not his type.'

'You heard her play... you telling me, she didn't go from a three to a seven after that in his eyes?'

Oh, someone was getting a broken nose. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a flyer for tonight.

"Listen my email is on this... Would you play next month? We would really love to have you back. Don't answer now just think about it." The pups were gossiping again. "Do you need a ride home?" I looked around she didn't seem to be heading to a car or to have a set of keys on her.

'Oh no it's not far though I'll be fine.' She stepped back. 'Thank you... for tonight.'

I turned to the pup and walked over yanking #Collin out of the circle. "No way... Collin will drive you home." I gripped his face with one hand. "And look at this face. He's as harmless as a kitten."

The pup was about to protest. But I dropped the jeep keys into his hands and he knew it was decided.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The music still played in the background, people were still excited, cheerful and talking about the show.

As I moved in the crowds, for once I listened to what was being said. And it was all good things. People had really come out to show their support to those who stepped up and showed off the talents they were hiding. My eyes moved around the bar, and I caught the eyes of the guy who’d gave me the beer before. He smiled and shrugged as to say. ‘Yeah, I’m still here.’

Making me shake my head. ‘He is cute, and he has been eyeing you up all night long.’ I had heard her coming before she had even spoke.

“Have we not spoken about this before?” I asked #Rachel, who started to collect the glasses from the table I was stood beside.

‘We did, but I’m not breaking the rules here. I didn’t talk you up to this one, he is liking what he sees all on his own.’ She winked at me, setting the glasses on my tray.

“And there you go, pimping me out again?” This just made her grin, turn and wave at #Paul who was watching his wife closely.

↬ Embry Call ↫

The goofball took #sumina over to the jeep after his far nicer attempt at convincing her that it wasn't a good idea to walk home alone.

'Did you just give her your number?' One of the kids laughed.

"No!" I scoffed... "She's Jessica's age!" Age was just a number, but she was too young... and timid was not my thing. I took a bottle of beer out of the kid's hand that had said she went from a three to a seven.

'Hey!!' he started to protest but I grabbed him into a headlock.

"Count yourself lucky Leah didn't hear that crack about #Sumina!" I released the kid and headed back inside. I stopped next to #Paul sipping on the beer I'd taken off the kid. His eyes were, of course, trained on his wife.

"She's not trying to set Leah up again, is she?" I chuckled... it didn't go well the last time.

'Nah... she's just... offering encouragement.' #Paul and I both laughed at that. Like Leah needed encouragement. If she wanted something she'd get it... but if she didn't... there was no convincing her to go for it.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘I mean if you just told me what your type was, it would make life so much easier for me.’ #Rachel followed me from table to table. And I gave her the mother of all eye rolls.

“You do know, the only reason you are still talking is because of your mom and dad?” Okay sure the imprint thing too. But I wasn’t going there.

‘Please, you couldn’t be without this face.’ She dropped the glasses on my tray and then cupped her own face. ‘It’s way too cute for you, and you know it.’ #Rachel winked at me, so I stepped into her and leant down a little.

“Why, shortie… Are you telling me you want to leave your oaf of a husband and shack up with me? I mean…’ I pointedly let my eyes travel over her. ‘I guess I could try anything once.’ I so wouldn’t. But my point was made by the beetroot red her face was turning. Because of the low wolf whistles coming from the table behind us, who clearly were listening into a private conversation, and then there were the dropped jaws of the pups coming back in from the outside. And #Paul.

He came out of nowhere and pulled #Rachel up into his arms. “Oh… Spirits… No! I’m not even chancing that… She would leave me at the drop of a hat.’ He was joking, and it occurred to me how much mine and his relationship had changed over the years.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I such in a sharp breath when #Rachel brought up #Leah's type and I looked at a #Paul. "Just encouragement huh?"

#Paul shrugged and smiled smugly. The look that said 𝐼𝓂𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒹𝑜 𝓃𝑜 𝓌𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔. I chuckled and swigged from the stolen beer again, almost choking when Leah checked out #Rachel! and for that typical male idea of Girl-on-Girl... it was practically a biological impossibility for a pack to picture an imprint like that. But she still managed to shock the pup that had just come back inside. I laughed at them and by the time I turned back #Paul was gone... wrapping his arm around his wife.

Shaking my head, I went to the stage and started tidying everything towards the back of the stage so the bar could run as normal tomorrow.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘Where is the #Goofball gone?’ #Jake asked, kissing #Ness on the cheek but his gaze moved over the bar.

‘Bry got a little protective over #Sumina, and made Collin drive her home.’ One of the pups said, as I stepped around the back of the bar with the empties.

‘Did he now?’ #Rachel perked up again, from the stool #Paul set her down on. And like that she was on to the next victim.

‘She is a nice girl Bry, why didn’t you take her home yourself?’ She asked looking after Call who was at the stage now. And didn’t wait for a reply. ‘Jessica, your friend Sumina, she’s not seeing anyone is she?’

#Jessica wasn’t sure what was happening, she had been in deep conversation with #Tony, who was still here. ‘Uhm… Yeah… She is…’ My cousin replied.

‘Leah?’ #Mac called and pointed to the clean tray of glasses. Nodding my head, I picked it up and walked it

over to where he was serving.

‘Sis, maybe less of the hitting on Rachel when I can hear you? I don’t need that image in my head.’ The kid was smirking and teasing. We all knew full well, that none of us could or would ever have those images in our minds. I only did it to get #Rachel to put her cupid bows away.

I smacked the kid over the back of his head. “Like that’s even possible, and also…. You know… don’t listen.”

Drying my hands off, I saw that Call was working the stage alone. Taking a deep breath before I walked away from the pack at the bar and towards him.

“Need a hand with anything here?” I asked.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I laughed and shook my head, of course it turned into this. "First off, that was not protective that was common a sense... a light breeze could knock that girl over. Second... She lives too close to home!! and third, 𝕀𝔽 I was interested, I would have taken her home."

I couldn't help but notice that #Tony ad #Jessica were still talking... I wondered if he'd asked for her number yet. I kept tidying up the stage and looked around a Leah. "Sure... you start wrapping up the cables for me. Do you know what you want to do with the whole set up? How long is your lease on all of this?"

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

“Figure out the best way to use it I guess.” Rolling the sleeves of my button-down shirt up. “Hmm… I believe Ton talked the guys into a six-month contract. And then we could think about how and if we wanted to go on with it.”

I totally kept out of the conversation #Rachel was trying to start. ( Actually, I stayed out of most of what this lot all talked about ). The last thing I needed was to be dragged into giving an opinion when I didn’t have one.

Combing my fingers through my hair I pulled it off to one side, nodding my head before climbing onto the stage, and towards the cables he motioned to.

‘Why are you playing it so hard to please Embry Call?’ #Rachel huffed at him, placing her hands on her hips. But it was Rach and she had a soft spot for Call. We all knew it. She then pointed towards the table full of girls who were watching him like a perfect piece of steak.

I recognised the girl with the brown hair. She had been the one to upload the video of him.

‘He has a fan club Rach, the boy doesn’t need any help.’ #Quil chuckled drinking a beer by the bar.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"Do you have anywhere to store the speaker and drums?" I looked up at her trying not listen to the madness to other were talking about. "Because it was thinking... my room at mom's is empty if you need extra space. and she had and alarm on the house too. "If you move the speakers off of the stage at least you don't need to worry about those when you’re open."

I laughed at #Rachel. "I'm not playing anything. Tonight, was about putting on a right night for the bar... how would look if word got out that the MC was sleeping with the performers?" I shrugged and dropped some cables into a box. "I mean business would triple... but for all the wrong reasons!" I winked at #Rachel and she rolled her eyes. "Also, I've always had a fan club..." But i tilted my head curiously at the table she was looking at.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Rolling the cable around my elbow, and arm, and holding it in my hand, making a neat pile of them to the side, I bent down to grab a plastic lock box. Placing them inside, I looked back at the drums and then at the speakers.

Biting the inside of my cheeks, why hadn’t I thought about this? The guitar and the keyboard would be safe with Call, but these.

“I guessed they would be fine up here. But…. I can’t do that to Ms. C’s place. Turning it into a storage room.” Shaking my head.

‘And what a tremendous show you put together, right Leah? He did such a good job.’ I glanced over to #Rachel and then to Call, was I needed in this conversation really? ‘See, she agrees with me.’ She winked at me.

Picking up the box that was full, I raised my eyebrow. “𝙎𝙝𝙚… has a name, and 𝙎𝙝𝙚 didn’t say a word.” I stepped down from the stage to carry the box full out into the back. I’d place it in the office for now.

‘Your Fan clubs are worth a follow.’ #Paul joked, earning himself a smack from #Jake, telling him to watch it but he was laughing too.

↬ Embry Call ↫

“I don't think she would mind; she never uses the room. It would just be a few months and then if it works out, we could start looking for something more long term. For it, all good here... I mean it's been here a few nights now and it's all been fine."

I laughed at #Rachel speaking for Leah... sure she was an imprint, but she was really testing the limits tonight. I didn't need Leah to lay on the praise... the fact she'd asked for my help with the night, to begin with and trusted me... was more than enough.

I glanced over at this 𝒻𝒶𝓃 𝒸𝓁𝓊𝒷 of mine. There were some good-looking girls at that table. A quick glance at the Pups and #Quil... #Jessica brushing some imaginary lint off #Tony's shoulder and hearing the chatter about the Sanctuary.... I turned back to #Paul and shook my head. "Not tonight... I'd rather head home and play a little more music."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

‘Final Call!’ #Mac’s voice came down to the back of the bar. But really, I knew it was only because of my wolf that I could hear him so clearly. Out of habit, I put the box down out of the way and rushed back out towards the bar. Stopping when I saw #Seth, #Mac and #Charlie working to get the last round of drinks out.

“By the Spirits, I feel like a spare wheel.” I mused, making my way behind the bar Asking who was next and getting to work.

I knew Call was helping with the offer of keeping some of the things at his mom’s place. But I would need to ask #MsC myself. I needed her to know that I could step up and ask her, rather than letting her son offer up her house. Setting two IPA’s on the top, I moved to pour out two whiskeys too.

‘Seth, Mac… New guy… Are you coming to the Sanctuary after closing?’ Paul asked the guys.

‘Not sure what that is, but...’ #Charlie pointed to his boyfriend sat at the end of the bar talking to a group of girls. ‘My date is here to take me home. Maybe next time.’ He winked at #Teddy who raised his cocktail glass before diving back into the conversation.

‘Sure.’ Seth said. ‘And Mac is coming too.’ He messed with #Mac’s hair. ‘It’s a good night we need to celebrate.

“Go after the doors are closed.” I told him in a low voice. “I got closing.” The three of then had made me proud tonight. And this was the only way I knew how to tell them.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I was about to take the box from Leah so she could head back to the bar, there was always a rush for the last drink orders of the night. But she got it... because, that was just how she worked.

I shook my head when she told the guys to leave after they locked up. "You know she only does that so she has an excuse, not to come over and let her hair down." I laughed and then #Tony jumped up onto the stage.

"You should stay with #Jess." I smiled at him and watched her drift back the girls and lean in to whisper. "Did you get her number yet?"

'I was thinking since you know her you could give her mine... and we--' I lifted a hand and cut him off.

"Not happening. “I shook my head. "I know you're nervous... and she could say no.. and that would suck." I shrugged. "But if you aren't willing to take the risk. You don't deserve her. And that would suck too... because I know you do. So... start rolling wires and let her go home wonder what if... or go let that girl know you see her worth. Your choice." I turned back to the back of the stage and shifted the drum kit back against the wall where it would stay until other plans were made.

I grinned when I heard the thud of #Tony's feet as he stepped down from the stage.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I froze pouring the whiskey, I didn’t need to turn around to see him. Embry Call’s voice said it all. What was up with him?

‘He is getting bolder if you ask me.’ My wolf was smiling as if she was on board with how he was doing it.

‘The tables are cleared, and you know we can do the rest tomorrow Sis.’ #Seth tried to push his face into my eye line. ‘Come, the last time seeing you there made the pups happy.’

Hand flat on his face I pushed it out of my way. “Get to work.” I told him.

#Jake and #Ness both laughed. ‘That wasn’t a no.’ #Ness said. The two got up and started to clean up the empty tables, to help us out with the others too.

I was going to kill Call, the plan was hatching in my head when my wolf told me to listen to him. To what he was saying to #Tony. And then she whispered,

‘He is evolving.’ But then there was something in me that knew. This was Call, Evolution or not. He would have looked out for #Jessica.

↬ Embry Call ↫

Her pause mid pour did not go unnoticed, I smirked and took a last look around the stage to see what would be let. I laughed at the way she planted her hand on #Seth's face.

"C'mon #Ness... We all know it's a No." I smirked, adding a hint of 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓋𝑒-𝓂𝑒-𝓌𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑔 to my tone because trying to fool into thinking that was what I really thought was a fool's errand.

'Call is definitely going soft.' I heard one of the pups muttered. 'Nah... It's Leah's cousin... if he's fixing her up he has to make it look good or she'll kill him.' another followed up. These kids really needed to be whipped into shape... I was definitely taking car keys at the sanctuary tonight... no matter how sober or drunk they were.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I flicked the cap from the bottle of beer in my hand through the bar, hitting the back of Call’s head. Giving him a look saying 𝙄 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. Because let’s face it, he was so pushing his luck tonight. #Tony moved to sit beside #Jessica, and I knew that all ears if not eyes were on him.

Setting the drinks, I had made down, I reached over the bar and smacked three of the pups on their heads. A chorus of ‘Hey!’ or ‘Sorry’ followed making the Wolves laugh as I narrowed my eyes.

“If you are all done drinking, get your arses out of the bar.”

I told them, really, I was trying to give #Tony some privacy to at least try to ask #Jessica for her number.

‘Better idea is to help clean up the bins and the recycling, so we can all leave here together.’ #Jake ordered; he knew what I was doing. And he was onboard. “They—“ #Jake shook his head to stop me.

‘We are family. And you know you need to Prove Bry wrong now.’ I just rolled my eyes at my Alpha, and friend.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"Okay... I deserved that." I rubbed the back of my head and did everything in my power not to train my ears on #Tony and #Jess. But at least the pups got a smack too.

I laughed when the Pups started to help clear up. "Alpha trumps Beta." I teased Leah. "So... I tilted my head at her. You coming to the sanctuary or what?" Deliberately putting her on the spot in front of the others.

#Paul came over and nudged me on the arm, whispering. 'Dude!' and directing my attention to #Jessica... typing something into #Tony's phone and handing it back.

"Damn..." I chuckled. "He actually closed the deal." I heard one of the pups muttering something about needing to learn how to sing.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

Picking up a cloth, I started to wipe down the bar. The guys all had the final orders in, and had also started to shut down the bar. #Mac making his way out onto the floor to guide the pups with what was needed and how to do it.

My hand stopped mid wipe and my eyes slowly lifted to glance at Call. The look this time growling 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙀𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙮 𝙁𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡?

There was bold, there was upfront. But this guy had gone from not giving a crap one way or another, to direct questions, and not backing down? It felt like everyone around us had stopped breathing. Eyes wide they were watching me and then Call. But before I needed to say anything, all their attention was moved. Every head turned to look back at #Tony pushing his phone back into his pocket. He was smiling like a cat who had gotten himself a bowl of cream.

Which told me, that if this thing actually went ahead with my little cousin. Then #Tony and I would be having words.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I swallowed hard at that glare. I wasn't flirting with the line anymore I straight up crossed it... and I was gonna pay. And even with the glare... there was that sense of something else in her eyes.

I saw her looking over at #Tony. And I whispered knowing the pack would still hear. "He's a good guy, I promise... He's just shy and awkward."

I heard him tell #Jess he was going to say goodbye and head off. Then he made his way over to me with a huge grin. 'She gave me her number.' He beamed and I chuckled, all the pups were trying not to.

"I saw!" I smiled at him. "Just make sure you call... no texting unless she texts you first. After the first call, you can text her all you want." He nodded. "You sure you don't want to come to ours and hang out, play a few tunes?"

He declined and asked me to make sure #Jess got home safe. But in this bar with this crowd that was always going to happen.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

My eyes softened a little at seeing #Jessica beaming, she was a good-looking girl, ( I mean of course she was, Jessica was a Clearwater after all. ) But it was her heart, her and #Seth had hearts of gold as the elders would say and when it came to these two it was true.

Call’s soft whisper made it to my ears, as well as everyone else that was around us. and I could see the change in the way they all stood or sat there. She wasn’t an Imprint, but she was family. And even if I would tell them that they didn’t need to worry about her, it wouldn’t stop them all from doing so.

“It’s a good thing I trust in what you are saying.” I whispered back. And out the side of my eyes I saw the flash of shock on #Jake and #Seths face. They knew I didn’t trust many, and definitely not words. It was about action with me. But how could I tell them… Call had shown his actions to be trustworthy a few times over now.

I stepped out into the back, emptying, and then refilling the glass washer when I heard the advice Call gave to #Tony.

‘See, what did I say?’ my wolf asked me. and I knew what she meant… 𝙀𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣!

↬ Embry Call ↫

#Jessica was beaming like she'd just struck gold... when really it was #Tony. She was a solid eight... And #Tony even though I loved the guy like family... Off stage; he was a four.

But that was #Jessica... like her cousin, she saw right through people and not in a way. Like the saw what was beneath the skin.

I was half startled though... did Leah just say she trusted me? I mean I knew she did when it came to most things, especially regarding the pack. But to hear her say it out loud...

#Jessica walked #Tony to the door and looked around her quickly to see if anyone was watching before she kissed his cheek and turned to walk away, her cheek and his bright red now.

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

I never did this, and I wasn’t sure what made me do it now. As I got to work cleaning up the back of the bar, I was honing in to #Jessica’s heartbeat and found it right away.

There was a skip and a dance to hers, something I noticed about it from when she was young. When she was happy, or nervous it played like a tambourine. It used to make me roll my eyes, but now listening to the sound of #Tony’s beat too.

“Fools.” I muttered. His was jumping all over the place, and then it spiked. What had happened out there? ‘Leah, I’ve got the earnings for tonight.’ #Mac had the cash tray in his hand, as will as the print out from the till with all the card transactions.

“And?” I asked drying the glasses.

‘It’s a winner, we’ve done better tonight than we did on the weekend.’ He looked proud and chuffed.

#Seth’s head pops out towards us, ‘And?’ He asked even if I knew he had heard the conversation.

‘We surpassed the goal we’d set.’ #Mac told him and then high fives the kid.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I couldn't help but overhear them talking about the night takings and it made me smile. I felt a firm pat on my back from #Jake as he slid onto the barstool next to me.

And ness pressed a kiss to my cheek. 'Well done 'Bry...' she smiled at me. 'You all did so well tonight... and to just for the bar... There were so many happy faces her tonight.'

I smiled and nodded. "You were amazing tonight you know that right?" I grinned at her and now she nodded. Modest wasn't something #Nessie bothered with... But neither was boasting.

'Dude..." #Jake exclaimed. 'You told us you couldn't sing! where did that come for.'

"Uh, uh!!" I shook my head. "I said I DIDN'T sing. Not couldn't."

↬ Leah Clearwater ↫

The guys headed back out and started to usher the stragglers out of the door. But as each of them walked past Call, they patted him and thanked him for tonight.

I knew I should thank him for everything he did, but…. ‘It’s still hard to thank someone who did something for you?’ My wolf asked. And I told her. Or reminded her. That it was the guys who asked Call to MC and not me.

Following the guys out from the back, I tried not to listen to all the pups talking to the girls trying to stay to ‘help’ them out. Instead, I made my way to the toilets to make sure they were empty.

#Tony was gone, #Jessica was still beaming, and Call. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say he hassled me tonight.” My voice could be heard by those who needed to hear it.

‘I’m going to agree with Leah.’ Those words came from #Paul.

#Quil asked if he were ill because that was the only way he would agree with me.

↬ Embry Call ↫

"That was not a hustle!!" I laughed hard. "She still won the bet!!" My heart did that thing again and #Nessie laughed. 'Wow!! Embry Call... and we all thought there was no rattling that ego... and one little song had you nervous.' She did not skimp on the mocking tone.

I nudged the hybrid with my elbow.

I could see that #Jessica was avoiding me, but her eye flickered up to me every few minutes and I laughed. "Okay, c'mon Clearwater junior." I shoved #Jake off his stool, he protested with a loud, 'Hey!'

I patted the now empty stool and jerked my head to call her over. "I don't do girl talk but I'll give you three questions. That's it!" I teased the girl. But the only person here that knew him other than me; was #Mac and I didn't think she'd ask him anything.

↬ Embry Call ↫

I just walked; I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I was going the right way. The slightly discoloured from age, white rigid guitar case in one hand. The other was restless dragging through my too long hair and over my face, shoving it in and out of my pockets. All while Picture This played into my ear through my head phones.

( Music: Magnet · Picture This )

My mind reeling. I didn’t know what the right thing to do was? The money could do so much…

I knew Nana and Grandad would do anything to help mom get better. I knew my Grandad would want me to do everything in my power to help mom get better. But this? I exhaled heavily and suddenly became aware that I was standing at the end of the path leading up to Leah’s door.

I chuckled and tilted my head up and laughed. “Are you kidding me?” I whispered. And the song changed. Three notes in and I was lost again remembering the moment I sang to Leah at the Sanctuary. I took the hint and dared to knock lightly on her door. I was about to get my arse handed to me.

(Music: You And Me · Lifehouse )

[blazingtheway]

Well, that was awkward – Embry Solo

I had completely lost track of time talking music with the nurse. Something beeped from beneath the table and she sat back and grabbed her beeper. 'Shoot... I was supposed to be back five minutes ago.' She clipped the beeper back onto the light green scrubs she wore. 'Um, I gotta get back but... eh...' she flushed bright pink and immediately I knew what was coming. Shit!! This was why I avoided the music conversation... I always gave off the wrong vibes... it was the music I was passionate about not the people I spoke to. 'Would you like to exchange numbers? We could talk about nerd music... maybe somewhere we could listen to it, too?' she was trying to keep her gaze on me but it kept dropping to the table. Shit! "Sophie..." I said in that tone said enough by itself. "You're Mom's nurse... and I..." 'Oh... yeah, of course, I get it. You have so much going on with your Mom being ill.' She started gathering up her things, not looking at me. Mom was gonna hear about this later. "Well, yeah but all of that. But I'm gonna be honest with you I'm just not that kind of guy who... calls. And you are definitely the kind of girl that... deserves to be called. You know?" That sounded a lot more comforting in my head... but out loud it sounded kind of pretentious and... Well, douchey. She seethed a little, silently. 'Um... yeah. Well, this was... nice. I really need to go.' she forced the kindest smile she could and was gone. Fuck!! “Well, that was awkward!” I mumbled under my breath. We were both going to the same place; I waited a full five minutes before slowly making my way back to the ward. I wasn't just saving myself an awkward encounter with the nurse but for her too. Giving her a little time push this to the back of her mind. I mean it was just lunch and a conversation, right? This wasn't going to make things weird... maybe for today but, next week this would be old news. Right? When I got back I smiled and at Hannah, the youngest patient in Mom's treatment group and handed her Mom a cup of coffee and a sandwich I'd grabbed before I left the cafeteria. Her mom hated leaving her side during treatments. 'Thank you, Embry you're such a sweetheart!' she flashed me a smile and leaned forward to slip her phone into her purse and I took the chance to sneak Hannah some chocolate with a wink. She laughed and quickly hid it beneath the blanket over her knees. I went back to sit next to Mom; who was looking at me with eyes full of unasked questions. "You and I need to talk about this later, Mom." I said to her somewhat seriously.

[blazingtheway]

When did us against the world turn into... – Embry Solo

( Music - Smells Like Teen Spirit - 2Cellos )

A few hours past and mom was three chapters deep into her book, and my stomach started to growl. Mom glared at me. 'Go and get yourself something to eat, will you!?' She griped and the nurse started moving through the patients again... most of them were looking rather tired now... but most of them had at least a decade on Mom. "It’s fine... I can wait until you’re done." I smiled at her. But she shook her head and smiled in that way she did when she was about to get her way. 'Embry Call! You are making it awfully hard to focus on this book; with your stomach grumbling like an angry bear. Go. Eat. Besides ..' she waved the book at me this is about to get steamy and no mom wants to read the saucy stuff with her son sitting by her side.' She smirked and shoved my knee; which I moved in the name of playing human. I rolled my eyes and leaned forward. "Fine I'll go get a sandwich, but I'll be right back." I stood up and kissed the top of her head. 'Sophie...' Mom said a little too sweetly. 'You must be due a break soon. Why don't you keep him company? You've been on your feet all morning... you need a break dear.' I glared at my mother but then quickly smiled when I found the nurse looking at me. 'That sounds like fun... I need to check on one more patient if you don't mind waiting? I'll only be a minute.' She smiled keenly. Too keenly. But Mom was right there. "Um, yeah... of course." I smiled convincingly at the girl and after she almost skipped to her next patient; I glared at Mom again. "Why would you do that?" I asked in a hushed tone. "I told you I don't want to date any of your nurses." I didn't want to date anyone, but that conversation never went well with mom. 'It’s just lunch Embry it's not a big deal. Just be nice.' She whispered. "No. Mom... it is a big deal. I don't want to date anyone right now. I don't want to be set up and now she's looking at me with those big doe eyes." I hissed quietly. "When did us against the world turn into you sending me off to on a lunch date?" 'Don't be so vain Embry... You are a very sweet and handsome boy but vanity is an ugly quality.' Mom's face was the picture of innocence. She didn't understand that I liked my life the way it was. And even though she was aware of my reputation around La Push she never brought it up. Thank the Spirit's! "Mom, you're not hearin--" I heard the shuffle of sensible shoes behind me and I stopped talking. I turned to look up the girl's face and straightened up from being bent over talking to mom. She looked a little shocked at my height... but that wasn't unusual. 'Ready to go?' she asked with a smile. I nodded, it wasn't that she wasn't an attractive girl... she was kind of pretty. But pretty wasn't my type... and my 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕡𝕤, if you could call them that, lasted a few hours. So there was no way this was going anywhere. We could be at this hospital three times a week when things were bad... A one night stand with a nurse or doctor could make things very awkward. The walk to the cafeteria wasn't too uncomfortable; she wasn't afraid to start a conversation but not too chatty either. She talked about mom and her sister, it made me smile and I didn't have the heart to correct her and tell her that #Sue was a close friend to my Mom. But they regarded one another as sisters and that was the most important thing. We grabbed coffee and pre-packed sandwiches. Forks Hospital was small so there were only a half dozen people around, mostly staff. And the radio was softly playing a Freya Ridings song that pulled my attention. But, of course, that meant I stopped listening to what Sophie was saying. 'Do you play too then?' she asked when she got my attention. "Hmm...?" I followed her gaze to my fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the table in time to the music. 'Your Mom told me that she plays the piano... and she does that with her fingers too when there's music. Or if she has headphones on.' She smiled. "Observant aren't you?" I chuckled and gave her a genuine smile. "Must be a habit I picked up from Mom." Not a lie, just

because I played the piano didn't mieam that was why I tapped out the notes when I heard music. 'So you don't play any instruments?' She asked, looking at me like she already knew the answer. I shifted in my seat a little. "I do play the guitar." I answered honestly, just leaving out the fact that I played piano too. I turned the conversation back to her. "Do you play anything?" She flushed. 'I do but you'll think I'm a total nerd.' She looked down and took a tiny bite from her sandwich. "I guarantee you I will... but aren't all musicians nerds." I teased her and sipped my coffee. 'Oh... No, this is next level nerdy... I play the cello.' She turned a brighter shade of pink. 'Well... when I have the time… which is rare.' "That is not next level nerdy." I quirked a brow. "Would you call Luka Šulić nerdy?" I laughed when her eyes went wide. 'How... you know who Luka Šulić is?' She was utterly shocked. I just took out my phone and open the music app tapping in 2Cellos and all the albums listed on the screen. I slid the phone to the middle of the table to show her. She gasped and gave a little giggle. 'You're a bigger nerd than me!' she blurted out without an ounce of shyness now. 'Well... now I have to have a nose.' She smiled and started flicking through my albums, leaving my phone where I had placed it on the table and that started us down a road of talking about music... That was something I could talk to any about for hours on end.