Page 38 of When Embers Become Ashes

“I have one of your marks, too, and I will be claiming my spot.” My brother beams at her, but she looks confused. What the hell happened for her to think all ten would reject her? I try to lighten the mood.

“I think that if anyone rejects her, her brothers will be the first in line for the beatdown. And if you believe there will be more than just a groaning bruise left, you’re an idiot, brother”. I shake my head at him, a smile playing on my lips. She still looks confused about why anyone would care; she will learn, just like J, River, and Trent learned. The three of us head downstairs laughing when we hear Miles scolding J for his outfit, and then we hear Alma threatening starvation to the next person who tries to taste-test Ember's cooking.

Ember

I checked in on Alma to make sure she didn’t need anything from me, but she was now in the flow, and I knew I would just be in the way.

I walked outside to the lodge's deck area; Bram has his guitar out, and the Hounds are singing The Sound of Silence. I love Disturbed’s version.

There was no sign of Pops; I just stood watching. They always achieved perfect harmony. I wonder if Bram knows how honored he is to join something like that with them. When they were younger Nonna would make them sing together, any song, she would pick something at random and when they were finished if the disagreement was still there, they would talk it out, as time went on they would sing just for the connection it gave them, Nonna was always singing or humming if she wasn’t you knew to give her space it meant she was angry and no one wanted to be on the wrong side of Nonna.

Pops walks in with Trunk and an older version of Dominic, who must be Nikoli. Pops whispers something to Bram, and Tim McGraw’s "My Little Girl" starts to play.

Tears sprang to my eyes; I never told Bram who got me into McGraw's music. Silas is the only one aware I’m here, and he's watching me. Pops used to sing Me Back to Sleep after Bad Dreams with this song. Pops' deep croon breaks through my memories.

"Now look at you; I’ve turned around, and you've almost grown. Sometimes when you're asleep, I whisper 'I love you' in the moonlight at your door."

I take a breath and start to move towards Pops.

“As I walk away, I hear you say, Daddy love you more!”

I join in, but instead of Daddy, I sing.

“Pops, I love you more.” Which has all the Hounds spinning to gawp at me, then I walk tearfully into Pops’ now open arms. Together, we finish the song. The 'boys' are in shock; well, all but Si, who’s been filming since Pops started to sing. Pops is now holding me close and whispering various things.

“Finally.” “Thank you." "You're safe now." in Latin.

I can feel tears falling into my hair as Ryland gets two steps from me before taking a deep breath. His head whips in Ren's direction, and then he charges at him, rugby-tackling him with a girly squeal of “Daddy.” He then starts asking what Ren wants to be called; I haven’t explained that to him yet! Whoops?

When a tortured croak behind me makes Pops pull away, as I hear a choked out,

“Bunica.” I turn to see Declan and Brayden supporting Nikoli. Mika says something, and then Pops, Trunk, and I follow them to an office I haven’t been in yet.

Maykal

Dad looks like he’s seen a ghost as we enter his office, and I guess he has. It never got chance to warn him, how much my daughter resembles mother at her age. Pops still holds my daughter’s hand, as if he’s afraid she will disappear, and I don’t blame him. Silas explained how they 'lost' her last time, and I still find myself pinching myself that she’s here.

Declan has set up security cameras so he can see where she is and that she’s okay while we work from home, even urging Silas to keep checking it while we’re at the office. Again, I don’t blame him. Dec and Bray help Dad into his chair while Bas gets him a glass of bourbon. As always, Ember looks like she wants to leave us to our family moment, but with Pops and Trunk on either side, She doesn’t move; she just looks down at the floor, ready to be scolded.

"Grandpa, are you feeling better? You’re worrying, Ember. My sister looks like you’re about to take her toys away."At Declan’s Russian Spoken words, Dad’s head snaps up.

He rambles an apology in Russian, then shakes his head.

"I’m sorry, my precious granddaughter," he translates, not realizing that Ember speaks Russian.

“I mistook for Wife, Bunica; you look mirror her, not your Papa.” His broken English is slow, and full of emotion, He opens his arms for a hug. Unlike the softness my brothers and I inherited from our mother, he is what you would find in a dictionary under 'grumpy old Russian': all cold eyes and sharp edges, the kind that most people shy away from. Even my sons, who have grown up around him, approach him with care.

"I’m glad I can give you part of her back, but I’m sorry it made you sad, Grandpa,"Ember replies with a perfect accent as she breaks away from Pops and hugs my grumpy father. We’re all in shock until Pops grunts,

“Grandpa?” as Dad croaks out,

"My Beautiful Grandaughter speaks Russian?”I go to answer them both, but Brayden answers first.

"It seems that when I’ve only felt my wolves from a distance, they were visiting Ember in her dreams. When she was isolated, they would teach her what I was learning at school; they also taught her Russian, Cherokee, and Irish." Dad chuckles. Pops turns to me, his eyes full of apology. I raise my hand.

"It's okay, Ember has explained a lot. She’s met a few of the boys and Mickey G on her way back to us, but she’s here and safe now," I say.

Pops nods and looks over at Ember, who seems smaller curled up with my father. She looks at me, then at Pops, sighing,

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