Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Waking up in her childhood bedroom used to fill her with mixed emotions that often reflected in the need to perform. To hop out of bed, thank the moon and stars for another day, hop on her haunches and just go.

She learned to craft her own rose tinted shades, in bright pinks like Spring landscape. It made growing up the ‘runt’ of the litter a bit easier.

That was before she transformed, however. Now, it…

Its…well, its weird.

She feels a stranger in her own home nowadays. Its been a week so far and it still doesn’t quite feel real.

Its swarming about her head like a typhoon she can glimpse clearly in the mirror.

Because then she can see her eyes—swirling bright, neon blue. It’d been happening often, with her fluctuating nerves. Her brother had pointed it out first over dinner; the sight of prime rib had her leg bouncing.

Its like second nature in this way that throws off her inner equilibrium. Especially after so long and so many desperate attempts, mean words, exclusion…

(Hunt. Eat. We need our strength.)

And the voices, god—well, its just one voice.

Its been prodding in back of her brain like channeling a radio signal on accident. A wire crossed that sent these varyingly primal messages to forefront of her mind.

Her mother tells her its normal. Tells her that after a while it should fade into the back, that she and the wolf will become one.

Only its been rough to accept so many things that aren’t her own. Hell, the fact that her mom is talking to her, gushing about her even. Had been doting over her, making sure her ‘strong blood wolf’ was attended to.

Its freaking her the fuck out for lack of a better phrase.

She stares at the stark white paint of her ceiling for a long time. Its oddly quiet, because the only ones home are her and the twins. Her other brothers were college aged and wouldn’t be home until later in December.

She has to practice deep breaths still, with…that.

When she thinks about Nevermore.

She’d always been a squeamish girl. It made awful sense she was so odd as werewolves go. She definitely was reminded, rudely as possible all her life.

But Wednesday—

No, she doesn’t regret that. It was really, really tough to deal with the blood on her hands. Smelling so much…smelling in on her roommate had just…just…

(Food. Need strength to protect.)

Enid rubs her temples in bed, deciding to roll over and grab her phone. Ignoring her rumbling belly and grumbling wolf all the while for some semblance of control. The wolf inside had been making a lot of bold comments about the seer lately.

Its comical, to think Wednesday needs her to protect her. She’d be naive to think the Addams a needy person, though her parents were attached from top of their heads to their toes.

Its not anything personal. At least not anymore. Wednesday didn’t ask Enid to do most of the affectionate gestures, but it was a love language thing.

Like when she and Yoko were becoming friends and she bought the cutest blackout shades for her dorm. Or, the fancy organic sun screen she got Divina just cause it was on sale and it made her think of the siren.

Only Wednesday didn’t always like gifts, so acts of service was next on the list. Of course, Enid’s number one would forever be physical touch, but that’s something quite literally touch and go.

Her brain turns to static when she thinks about Wednesday’s arms wrapping around her for the first time. Because of the build up, you know? And the…adrenaline—yeah.

(We kept her safe. We should’ve left our kill at her feet before we embraced her.)

Which is totally insane, because Tyler’s not dead. Allegedly the boy was on the way to some kind of institution; for better or worse is TBD.

Enid’s brows knit as she looks her phone over.

Its still early. She’s been waking up at odd hours like four AM with her stomach growling and gums itching. Her mother had said it was something instinctual. Her wolf often grumbled in its place—somewhere deep in Enid’s gut where it would burn before her bones snapped.

Her mom was over joyed. She’s transformed nearly every night this week.

Its why she’s so groggy, so hungry.

She rolls from her bed in a daze, noting her lack of clothing with a groan. She dresses in her pajama set, the one with pretty flowers patterned on the shorts. They happen to be on top of the drawer.

She glances to her notifications as she groggily makes her way into the hall way and then to the bathroom.

A majority from Yoko who tended to go full nocturnal when she was home. The girl had been subject to ‘bogus coven time’ and ‘endless nagging’ from her sire. Enid grins at the forced selfie sent with her friend and her sire, Carmilla.

The girl reminded Enid of Wednesday in a way, dead eyed glare as Yoko smiles maniacally.

She snorts to herself, brushing her teeth and letting her heart skip a beat at Ajax’s text good night once again. He was extra considerate and understandably more doting in their time away. Like he’s afraid something will happen to her.

She gets so many ‘r u sure’ texts and ‘lmk if u want 2 talk.’

And Enid doesn’t understand because she feels thats all she does. She’s yet to lie to him.

(Weak boy. Could never keep us safe.)

Enid glares at her own reflection before she spits into the sink.

Her wolf also loved to nitpick her boyfriend. Constantly in her ear with short comings that sometimes don’t even make sense.

Like…of course Ajax couldn’t kill a bear with just his hands! Enid doesn’t even want that.

(Good mate provides and protects.)

Enid wished it looked less unhinged to conk herself upside the head.

Instead she bounds down the steps, luckily finding that most of the lights are off. Save for a dimmed light in the living room by the couch.

It was a quaint little townhouse they lived in. Still nice of course, considering her home state of California. It was often warm when she padded around, even in these later months. The kitchen tile even, though its a welcome cool against her feet in comparison.

The fridge is usually stacked with meat. Her mother tended to have all types of cuts thawing throughout the week to cook or nibble on as seen fit. Her stomach growls incessantly as she eyes a whole chicken on the bottom shelf.

Its like she can’t control it—the blood doesn’t make her flinch in the same way. Its not pleasant by any means…well, that would be a lie. Her wolf is delighted as she sinks her canines down and her claws extend as she takes her meal to the kitchen table.

Enid, however, she hates picking the red flecks from beneath her nails after. The metallic stench that hung under her nose afterward was maddening.

She registers footsteps, but can’t be bothered to look up until she hears words.

“Aww, you haven’t ripped your food apart like that since you were teething as a pup…”

Enid’s ears twitch and her eyes go to the kitchen door way. Esther stands with a smile that crinkles the side of her eyes. She looks at Enid with endearment that had disappeared after her puppy years too.

Esther ‘ooo’s’ in her silence and unfinished meal.

“Don’t let me stop you!” She waves Enid off, walking past her to go to the fridge herself. “I saw you last night again, you know? It still baffles me…you’re even taller than Leo.”

Leopold, or Leo—her eldest brother that she’d often been compared to. She loved him to death, but it teetered to resentment the older they got. When he was initially the alpha, only for Enid’s transition to throw things for a loop.

Her wolf had been preening under the newfound power, but Enid just felt hollow.

Esther being so kind didn’t lessen the sting. It just brought attention to the scarred over skin. The same way it did when Esther praised her over her battle scars from the Hyde.

Its bittersweet.

She just keeps eating.

/

She goes to the beach with her brothers for a lot of the day.

She honestly avoided her phone for most of it, too. Decides she doesn’t feel like battling the beast in back of her head when she just wants to talk to her boyfriend. It was headache inducing just replying to his daily ‘good morning’ message.

And God forbid she try to compliment him…

(Weak. Scrawny. No like snakes.)

She can’t even begin to implore to her wolf about how he’s not entirely made of snakes and how he was getting so much better at not stoning himself on accident. But, it fell on twitching ears and a maw that huffed its indifference.

Its easier to text Yoko, but the vampire would likely be comatose until the sun goes down.

She plays catch with the twins until Fletcher throws it way out of bounds.

“Welp, that was fun while it lasted!” Fern, the other twin snickered to himself as the frisbee disk soars over the water.

Enid watches fondly when the two begin to tussle, yelling about ‘accidents’ and ‘why they can’t have nice things.’

It’s honestly a welcome change of pace to not have to try to keep up with them. She’s surprised her own budding strength hadn’t sent the disk flying.

“I’m gonna grab a hot dog while you two cuddle!” Enid jokes, mostly wanting to entice them to go. She desperately wanted a shower.

Fletcher’s the one that ends up driving back, considering he’s the one that ended the game. He fronted the SUV with Fern as Enid chances her phone again.

Curiously its Wednesday replying way earlier than usual.

Enid had been over the moon in learning that her friend had finally given into the trends she hated so bad and got a phone. She was told it was a ‘begrudgingly accepted token of gratitude’ from Xavier after taking an arrow to the chest for him.

(Another weakling. Can’t protect her. We can. We will.)

“You good back there, dude?” Fern asks, leaning his own blonde head back to look at her oddly. Enid looks back in equal confusion from where she’s curled up on her phone.

“Yeah, why—whats up?” She replies blankly and Fern just shakes his head with amusement.

“You were growling is all. Which like I totally get it, sometimes Twitter pisses me off too, but you gotta work on that temper sis.”

Enid kicks the back of his seat instead, which did wonders for her anger management. The displeased grunt is just a bonus.

She goes back to her phone with warmth to her cheeks. Mainly in embarrassment of her unconscious reaction to thinking of the battle before break. Nevermind whatever her wolf was getting at…

She opens Wednesday’s message without thinking. Feels her heart in her chest and wolf running around her brain in circles as her eyes scan it.

Wednesday: Greetings Enid. I do apologize for contacting before our designated time slot, however I wanted to request that we communicate face to face this evening. I have become more adept at this facetime application you had previously mentioned. I have made a begrudging amount of progress with mother. Also Thing would like to show you the horridly bright color he painted his nails.

Regards, Wednesday Addams

Enid’s grinning like a dork by the end of it, but Wednesday was just so…herself, it endeared the hell out of her sometimes. From the unnecessary formality down to her serial killer schedule.

Wednesday typically only replied to her at night after her writing hour had finished. Like she had to commit the ‘sin’ of technology under night light. Enid often waited by her iphone with the notifications on full volume the closer it got to said time every night.

Only because of the build up…again. Wednesday had a way of making her work for things that made them all the more satisfying. The anomaly of it all, or whatever.

And oddly enough…her wolf was mostly silent when she talked to the seer. Hauntingly so sometimes, as if in a trance.

Like Wednesday’s near daily tales about her family lore and practicing with her visions were asmr.

Me: Ofc silly!! ☺️☺️☺️ omg Im so excited now! I can show u my room 😈

She would take great pleasure when Wednesday curls her lip up at the parallels to their dorm. In fact her childhood room would likely appear worse. Walls were painted a pale baby pink from when she was a pup along with all the frilly decor and her plush bed spread.

Not to mention the plushy collection.

Once home, Enid’s practically skipping inside the house.

“Whats got you in a goofy mood?” Fletcher questions as they enter. Before she can snark anything in return, Fern is butting in. Sprinkling his quip in as they walk through the foyer.

“Probs the gorgon boy she sucks face with.” The sentence sends something viscerally unpleasant rumbling up in form of a low growl.

(Claim her properly. Tell them.)

“I’m not texting Ajax, I’m texting Wednesday—my friend if you must know.” Enid does in fact correct them, with her frown and elbow to her sibling’s side.

She stuffs her phone down her back pocket and ignores the plethora of other thoughts swirling around her actions. Of why its so easy to deny, aside from it being technically true.

She’s grateful for once, when their mother’s watching from the couch. Smiling fondly at them and standing, likely to change subject.

She’d much rather do chores.

“How are my pups doing?” Esther greets, appearing from the living room as they enter. She ruffles the boys’ hair, ignoring their grunts at the term of endearment.

Enid nearly walks past before she remembers she’s technically included in that now. Esther’s attention is caught by her soon after, the woman taking time to give her a curious once over.

Enid feels the way she used to when she would wake up after another shift-less night. When she’d be prodded and sniffed as if injured, or broken.

But this time her mom’s expression is soft. Her nose isn’t invasive, but her eyes are weirdly sagely like she knows something.

“Uh…everything alright, mom?” She tries not to stutter and will her heart not to clench in anxiety. Its so strange to have her mother be like this.

Squinting her eyes in a smile and wrapping arms around herself just as Enid holds her own arm for comfort. Her brothers seem to know how to make themselves scarce when things got weird. They were no where to be found suddenly.

Just soft murmurs from the TV. Its technically still early—easier to wolf around on a public beach that way. Their father was likely still asleep.

“I should be asking you, shouldn’t I?” Esther attempts to joke and with her daughter’s awkward smile, she cocks her head. She leans herself in direction of the hall, “Come with me to the den for a moment…will you, Enid?”

The entire walk she feels weighted down. Her wolf curled up with its tail raised and ears back. Internally she was reeling—her stomach especially.

“Did…did I do something?” Enid asks by the time they hit the door way to a small office space. Her mom just sat on one of the arm chairs that lay to the side, under a wall of varying mementos from kills her family had made over the years.

Her mom simply lays back against the seat, her wolfishly curly head going against the fur blanket draped against the back. She can’t help but lock up, excuses flying from her mouth.

“If this is about the pork rinds in the cabinet I swear to god, Fletch told me they were free game—“

“Enid you’re not in trouble, sweetheart.” Esther holds up her hand as if Enid stood before her in her wolf form. A frantic animal needing to be swayed. She smiles, albeit her eyes are wary, “I just wanna have a chat. Wolf to wolf.”

Enid’s more than a little triggered about this scene. Theres been many talks in the den with her mother throughout the years, none of them of any help to barely-hanging-on self esteem.

Most were about her shortcomings. With lectures and points to certain animal parts on the wall. Trophies she’s yet to add to, since her transformation hadn’t yet happened.

Just before start of the semester, actually…she’d been in this very same position. Except her dad was here too, behind his desk and Leo was standing with his hands in front of him. He had kept his head down, mouth moving, but never opening.

She has to blink away the harsh blue of her own eyes. If she thinks about it too long, her own pack looks awfully close to predator. She becomes defensive.

“About…?” She questions, then having to clear the gruff from her tone. She had to make active efforts to control herself when her mom looks at her like that.

“I heard you’re in good standing with the Addams girl, still?” Esther questions in a way that almost sounds coy.

Like its to be expected that she would be questioning her about…

It just throws her for such a loop, she stares dumbly back at her mom. Her mouth opens, because of all the things—the people, its just—

And the fact that its about Wednesday…

(Protect. Off limits.)

“She’s my friend, yes…why?” Enid’s brows knit tight at the alarm she feels going off in her brain. In this room especially. She frowns as she leaped in defense of her friend once again, “Are you gonna be judgey about her family? They’re good people.”

Enid can’t swallow the growl rumbling up her neck when Esther laughs. Her mom remains unaffected, likely used to the grumbling over years being around moody teenage pups.

Still, it displeased her to think her that her warning about harm coming to Wednesday wasn’t taken seriously. Deeply and on a frightening level that had her reigning in claws for the nth time this week.

Her mom must take pity on her internal battle, probably seeing the way her eyes have begun to glow. She shakes her head before explaining.

“Not at all, actually the Addams are a very important family.” Her mom has that glimmer in her eyes that make hers wanna roll. Of course their status had won her over. Esther beams, “That Gomez—he handled your uncle’s case against his job with the union, you know?”

Enid didn’t really know what Wednesday’s parents did outside of annoy her. Rather, she didn’t go into detail outside of the day to day. The seer was someone that needed to be prodded for information and Enid didn’t often know where to begin or end.

She was still asking a million questions about all the rooms in the Addams mansion. Wednesday had casually dropped the fact that it was well into the double digits.

So, she knew her mother had a sewing room, a lab for ‘various experiments that shouldn’t be discussed in a traceable manner,’ and that a fencing piste existed somewhere. She’d definitely heard Wednesday mentioning Gomez having an office, though.

The manor apparently had a lot of guests, much to her friend’s displeasure. She tries hard to recollect if she’s hip to any clientele.

“I was kinda young…” Enid replies eventually, when she comes up blank. Shrugs her shoulder with it and her mother breathes out another laugh, but softer.

“The point is, Enid, I would like you to invite Wednesday to our home so I can thank her properly.”

Another statement that feels like wolfsbane to the face with how viscerally it jars her. Let alone the fact that she retained her roommates name. 

Hearing it pass her mom’s lips just feels so ridiculously surreal.

“Thank her?” Enid repeats, incredulous of the situation in and of itself. Her brain is still stuck on the fact that their families knew each other to some capacity.

“She unlocked your wolf, sweetheart.” Esther smiles so wide, her eyes squint at the sides. She nods her head in Enid’s direction with a sigh of joy. Then her hands go to her lap, as if she can barely contain herself, “The one to trigger your powers after all these years…and a blood moon wolf in the Sinclair pack!”

(Extend the pack invitation. Show her we can provide. Worship her. Allow our pack to—)

Enid has to lean against the doorway for a minute to process it all. Her wolf alone is screaming at her as if she’s known Wednesday longer than a couple weeks. The loudest its been since she was in the forest, back in Jericho and desperately trying to pick up Wednesday’s scent.

She focuses on the most important implication here.

Her mom’s invite is a heavy one—extremely embedded in tradition and formalities.

The last person of which had been when her second oldest brother Charlie had found his mate after leaving for college. It was a way to not only celebrate a union, but show off pack assets and strength.

Often it included a big hunt to highlight how well a pack could provide. The feast and bonding afterwards was meant to be a sacred thing. It technically varied on reason, as it could also symbolize something like a pack treaty, or a new member.

Enid was more than overjoyed at getting to share her customs with her bestie. That was something all parties could agree on, but it still sat uncomfortably in her belly.

She believes it to be her own fear, but can’t pinpoint one singular thing. She just knows her mom and Wednesday in the same room could bring disaster before all else.

“I can definitely ask if she has time to come over, yeah.” She pretends like it wasn’t a question she’d wanted to ask anyway. She had extended an invitation to Wednesday before they had finished packing fully.

Her mother nods and grins madly, hands clapping together.

“Oh, I could howl to the moon goddess herself—I wasn’t expecting to host so soon!” Esther was over the lunar cycle itself with the fact that she would get to do this and have Christmas with all her pups this year.

While Enid and her brothers were sent home early, her other siblings would be there in the upcoming weeks.

Its already taxing to put on her face and deal with conflicting emotions with her family.

And then dealing with her wolf banging on its mental cage after so many dormant years—Enid felt over loaded. She certainly wouldn’t be able to annoy anyone with her amount of clubs next semester if this continues.

Speaking of…Enid can’t help but test her luck further.

“Do you think I could invite…Ajax over sometime, too?” She asks slowly, hands behind her back. It has her belly lurching with nerves and her wolf protesting, but she had to try.

Ajax had been. He’d been trying a lot, actually.

Her mom pauses her theatrics and excited planning to look at her funny. She doesn’t look upset and though Enid flinches and prepares for the worst, she simply waves her hand. As if Enid had made some meaningless aside.

“One guest at a time, sweetie.” Esther brushed off, standing from her chair and moving to walk past her. She pats Enid on the arm and then knocks her forehead into her daughter’s arm.

It should be comforting, but Enid’s stiff as a board.

Her mom just keeps past her, tossing over her shoulder—

“Besides, I think you’ll be plenty occupied with this one—oh! Let me go wake Murray and prepare for a hunt!”

Enid doesn’t think she exhales until the footsteps go towards the steps. And then she lets herself slide to the ground, back against the wall once she hears them upstairs.

How the hell was she supposed to ask Wednesday to come visit her now?

Chapter Text

“I accept the invitation.”

Enid has to catch her phone, before it drops from her hands and clunks onto her face. She abruptly sits up, holding the phone and camera steady and looking intently at where Wednesday stares blankly back.

“You…what?” Enid asks her to repeat it, but her wolf is already doing victory laps around her brain. She’s prancing through a mental forest, eagerly chanting her friend’s name.

(Wednesday…Wednesday…Wednesday…)

It was like gruff panting in the distance, but just enough to have her eye twitching.

Her wolf had otherwise been quiet and behaved while she had awaited the call. Had stirred slightly at the sound of the seer’s voice, but otherwise appeared fast asleep. Lately she’d been understanding what Wednesday meant about the noises in her sleep.

Its like they were one in that brief moment. It felt familiar at least. Like maybe her wolf really was there all along.

And then Wednesday was going on about her day.

Even the mundane things, like her chore of watering the graveyard early in the morning. Enid had begged for information so much early on in their friendship—it was nice when the seer gave it up absentmindedly.

Like she wants to talk to Enid. To keep the conversation going beyond grunts and glares of disinterest.

For once Enid thinks she speaks the least. Her mom’s words were still rattling in her brain.

Wednesday had been mid talking about her mom making her spend time outside to ‘feel her inner raven’ and all this spiritual jazz. Enid had been unable to think of anything other than her own mother’s proposal.

Had bit her tongue so many times, up until Wednesday started complaining about being home again—

“My-mom-wants-me-to-invite-you over-to-say-thank-you-the-werewolf-way-and-it’s-really-totally-ok-if-you-can’t-but-she’s-kinda-making me-ask-you.” Followed by a harsh and unnatural sounding laugh that has her cringing as soon as its left her.

There wasn’t a breath, or break in her words.

She’s not even sure how Wednesday makes out the fact that there is anything of value to pick out of any of that. Let alone agreeing.

And still she looks back at Enid like she’s bored.

“Honestly, it would be welcome to take a break from this seer bootcamp. Its been grating—and not in a good way. And you did promise me dreary weather,” Wednesday says with a shrug. She’s at her desk from what Enid can see, her bed in the background. “Would you prefer if I didn’t?”

She asks like an afterthought, genuinely curious. She doesn’t really sound offended either, though Enid jumps to deny.

“Of course I want you here!” She shouts far louder than she means to. “I miss you like crazy, I just don’t trust my mom, you know? Like its…weird, right?”

Enid’s voice lifts, desperate for someone to tell her she’s not being crazy. That she has right to be vigilant, even if her family suddenly treated her with sense.

Wednesday hums, expression stilted as ever. She can see the thoughts swirling in those dark eyes, though. The seer’s eyes often told what her mouth didn’t care to.

“I suppose its rather uncharacteristic, all things considered,” Wednesday concludes leaning on her crossed arms. “Although, I’m terribly curious to know what her motive is. Do you believe I am to be some type of pawn?”

Enid wants to wince at the way Wednesday looked to be and sound excited about someone plotting against her. The seer not only foresaw danger, but basked in it. Like she enjoys raising Enid’s blood pressure.

“She claims she wants to ‘thank you’ for helping me wolf out.” Enid corrects, even though she may as well be reading off a threat. With how it still sat like a brick in her stomach.

Wednesday just ‘pffts’ like she said something silly.

“Well, that’s redundant,” Wednesday deadpans. “For all that, you may as well invite Tyler for a supervised visit. It was no more him, me or anyone else that made you turn.”

(Should’ve finished the job. I can still taste his blood…it was glorious.)

Enid can hear her wolf clanking against its mental bars at mention of the Hyde. She doesn’t think she can even call him by his name. She’s certain her lip curls in visible displeasure.

Wednesday had been keeping tabs on him still.

The Addams had texted sporadically about the subject exactly three times. Each with an update that made Enid have to go for a run after, because her wolf couldn’t take it.

Be it the thought of him, the fact that he’s still alive, or the way Wednesday still placed herself in proximity.

Another thing thats stupidly dangerous—gravely so, but the seer assured that she’d ‘see it coming’ if harm was imminent, with enough confidence to make her tuck her tail in. Her wolf did a better job listening to Wednesday than her.

Even now, she slumps her shoulders from where she sits on her bed. She huffs, frowning down at Wednesday who patiently looked back.

“She’s been being weirdly nice and I think she just wants to meet one of my friends? I guess?” Enid tries to convince them both. Her mom had been indifferent about Yoko, but that was likely due to vampire/werewolf beef that was older than both of them.

Still, she thinks that she’s more worried than Wednesday.

She watches her friend’s lips move minutely, a symbol of her friend’s brain working. Wednesday had her thinking face on.

“You’re making the face you make when you’re stuck on a page of your book.” Enid comments when she hears nothing on the other end for longer than normal.

Wednesday hums first, before her expression turns more serious.

“As you are aware, I have been greatly expanding use of my abilities.” She begins forebodingly, which has Enid’s eyes going wide.

Wednesday’s visions, from what she’s been told, were often flashes of gruesome death and chaos. Enid had to take a few moments to process when she had finally told her how she watched Rowan die. Amongst others that she spared details for sake of her sanity.

“I mean I don’t think anyone wants you dead—“ Enid starts to backtrack, hoping that it doesn’t come to something bloody outside of a hunt.

Wednesday sternly holds her lips, her expression alone enough to quiet her.

“Allow me to finish, Enid its rude to interrupt.” Wednesday pouts, crossing her arms. Well, as much as can pout—Enid thinks it’s cute regardless. Even if the seer would skin her alive for thinking so. She clears her throat before continuing, “As I was saying, I have been able to pinpoint more negative instances than simply death or major injury.”

“Like…minor injury?” Enid muses, going to lay once again. She slides forward onto her belly, holding the phone ahead as she swings her feet.

“Amongst other things.” Wednesday confirms, then adds, “Mainly strong emotions tied to displeasure. Things like disappointment or anger for instance. I was able to see Pugsley’s tears of defeat before our bout even occurred—as if I could predict his every move. Though, he’s a poor example…I always beat him.”

She doesn’t sound at all upset about it, though. Theres that slight curve to her lip at talk of winning. Enid mulls it all over as her legs swish behind her.

“So, you could tell me if my mom has some ulterior motive in wanting you over?” The wolf asks next, a bit of hope returning to her. Its a long shot, probably considering it was all still very new.

“Precisely, although I admit this will be a trial run. It should be good practice nonetheless.” Wednesday says next, as if reading her thoughts.

Its unspoken the way they both have had different trials in coming into their powers post Crackstone. Though they often talked to each other and she knew the girl was in better standing, it still made her think of the past.

The way her neck would snap back and she would keel over with a new premonition.

“Its not gonna like…hurt or anything is it?” Enid asks timidly. Even if she knows Wednesday doesn’t like it when she worries over her like this.

(Its for her own good. She will see.)

That certainly wasn’t helping, either.

“Its no more dangerous than normal,” The seer reassures rather than showing distaste over Enid’s care. She almost looks amused, “I’m already sitting down as well.”

And its Enid thats kicking her feet and stalling now. She just feels so intensely and unexplainably concerned with Wednesday’s health.

“Is there anything you need from me?” She asks next, watching Wednesday adjust herself in her seat. She rolls her neck and goes to massage her own temples.

The action of the craning neck catches her eyes in this primal way she can explain even less.

(Scent…miss her scent…)

Enid finds her teeth aching, wolf huffing and sniffing at nothing. Ghost of old ink and heady musk of incense often inhabited Wednesday’s natural smell. She feels her mouth salivating at the memory—

Wednesday drops the phone in process of adjusting.

Then Enid has to wipe at her mouth in embarrassment and flustered confusion. She thanks the Moon that Wednesday was so one track minded.

All the while she had been answering Enid’s question.

“—but just you being here should be enough.” Is the tail end that she catches. The phone is also placed against something so Wednesday can better position herself. Also enough to jar the wolf’s brain back to reality.

Enid can’t help but end up back on her knees in anticipation. Shakes her head in feeble attempt to shake her weird intrusive thoughts out of her skull.

And maybe quiet the wolf thats asking for…for things—things that aren’t even relevant right now.

(And that Enid can’t even begin to make sense of)

The seer takes a deep breath, eyes slipping closed as she exhales. Enid has to force her attention back to where it matters. Though she’s been physically present, she’s sure her expression is spaced out.

“What are you thinking about…when you do this?” Enid asks, her own voice sounding far away from herself. Her friends eyes keep pressed close, soft breathing following.

“Mother told me to focus on finding the feeling vs it finding me…” Wednesday states next, body beginning to relax.

Its unnerving staring at Wednesday’s face with her eyes closed. Like she’s walked in on the girl asleep at her desk after writing late into the night.

“Do you…do you see anything?” Enid can’t help but ask in lieu of so much silence.

Wednesday doesn’t say anything, but her brows squeeze taut and she frowns in what looked like concentration or strain. A low hum passed the seer’s lips and Enid feels her nerves floating about her stomach.

Then she raises as if possessed, gritting her teeth as her head swings back against the chair. Enid’s half way standing off the bed and prepared to shift and run however many miles cross country.

“Are you o—“

“Shh, I…I believe I-I may actually be close.” Its rare to hear Wednesday stutter. Enid can see her wolf had awoken fully, tail wagging fiercely due to the way neither of them could physically help right now. And then the brunette pulls an odd face, “I see wolves, but thats a given…a hunt, it looks like and—“

Wednesday doesn’t look to be in pain, though the way she pauses so abruptly has her gripping her phone tight enough to crack the screen a bit.

“Wednesday? Wednesday?!” Enid presses her face closer to the phone as if it would someone soothe them both. The seers eyes bulge wide as she looks to come back to Earth, gasping and face curiously flushed.

Wednesday was always so pale, it couldn’t help but catch her attention seeing blush on her cheeks. Light pink that nearly touched tip of her nose as those lips hold together taut. To add another outlier, the seer blinks once and then twice in a row.

Enid’s sure she pops a vessel with how hard her own eyes are straining.

Then she’s clearing her throat, looking at Enid more clearly. She blinks even more, looking not dead at the camera for the first time and seemingly somewhere behind it in thought.

“Was…was it that bad?” Enid questions hesitantly, ready to hear the worst. Especially if Wednesday’s expression and following silence were anything to go off.

But the seer looks to her properly again, before she shakes her head. She looks to still be mulling over whatever she saw, making Enid’s heart rate rise the longer she’s quiet.

“Not at all, I’m simply…” Wednesday bit her lip, like she had to decide what to say. “Its quite taxing from so far away, I think.”

Enid feels a distinctive stir in her chest that feels like disbelief. She doesn’t know what incentive her friend would have to lie, though.

Its like something instinctive in her gut. She sees her wolf cocking its head in agreement, even it not calmed by Wednesday’s words for once.

“Your stress will spike during a full moon’s hunt, however I sense no secret nefarious plot on your mother’s end.” Wednesday continues, voice even but rough, likely with strain of using her powers. Then, she leans her head in her hand, “How disappointing.”

“Nothing at all?” Enid prods, unsure of why she’s unconvinced. Well, she knows why she doesn’t trust her mom, but Wednesday was different.

(She’s stubborn. But needs protection.)

Well, she technically can’t argue that first part. Even if the seer always insists she doesn’t need to worry and looks to be surprised she’s even asking.

“I don’t recall your mother being shy about her feelings in the past, or caring for yours for that matter.” Wednesday brings up next, brow raised. “If she wanted either of us to be dealt with, I doubt she would play coy.”

Another point she can’t really argue. Esther had never pulled punches. She wondered what her mom’s inner wolf mantra sounded like, with the woman’s own lack of filter.

“I guess…if you really don’t see anything…” Enid pouts, doing her best to take to heart the words from her bestie.

But, of course, she should know better than to seek comfort from an Addams…

“How about instead you focus on relocating about half of your plushie armada, before I arrive. Otherwise, I am not to be held responsible if any meet their well overdo demise.”

And her wolf wasn’t at all exaggerating when she called her friend stubborn.

/

For whatever reason, be it grace of the Moon goddess, her own accumulated karma or simply dumb luck—her mom is still eerily ok with her inviting a non-wolf friend over.

And extremely pleased that Wednesday accepted.

In fact, she looks happier than Enid at the fact that her friend is coming to visit during the upcoming weekend. Her mother had been adamant about the full moon festivities and it lined up with Wednesday’s vision well enough.

She had done that thing again—clapping her hands in delight with her metaphorical tail wagging. Like she really was happy that she was about to meet one of Enid’s friends. The same (again she cannot stress this enough) non-wolf friend thats the opposite of convention and tradition at that!

Even her father had been keen on the news. Though always a man of little words, he had smiled so warmly at her like she brought home her first kill or something…

Enid just didn’t know how to stomach it properly.

(Focus on the nest. She will need rest after her travels. Then we must hunt her a meal.)

That was a welcome distraction in theory, however, she really wished her wolf would stop calling it that. It makes her face heat in the worst way, because nests aren’t just a thing for friends to climb into let alone a guest.

Nests were for…other things. Like after care for a wolf after…stuff.

God.

Enid has to slap herself lightly to get her mind out of the gutter and back to the task at hand. No matter unpacking more of her weird, wolf hormones crossing hairs with her normal friendlier ones.

She had been sorting through whatever plushies looked least offensive so she could move the rest into her already bursting closet. While she’d love to argue and could more than overpower the Addams, she preferred there be no lost stuffing in casualties, thanks.

Shes standing and holding the massive Cooky plush that Yoko got her for her last birthday and moving it over when she hears steps approach her door. She’s honestly not the biggest BTS stan, but she appreciated the effort. She hugs the over sized rabbit to her chest, looking to see one of the twins standing leaned against her door.

He smirks at her, blonde hair messy and longer than hers. He playfully knocks against the frame twice.

“Sprucing up the place for your pet?” Fletcher jokes, going to flop himself on Enid’s bed. She scrunches her nose up as soon as he does it, knocking over some of the plushies she’s yet to go through.

It pisses her off, but like way more than usual. Like, she needs this interaction to be quick.

“Try saying that to her face, asshole,” Enid grumbles, sitting the large bunny down in her vanity’s chair. Then with her hands on her hips she looks at where her brother looks to have relaxed.

Hands behind his back as he lounges, even. And it just grates at her, making her teeth grind as he exists uninvited, yet so unbothered in her space. She growls to herself and just chalks it up to her already high nerves.

“Mom’s awfully excited to have her over, huh?” He prompts next, looking over at her expectantly. Enid looks to him with pleading eyes next, to his amusement.

Honestly she jumps at the chance to vent.

“So its not just me that thinks its weird—right?” She asks, desperate for someone to confirm her anxiety for reasons she can’t place.

Fletcher just snorts at her, then leans up on his elbow.

“Weird? Nah, mom is just like that—you know how she is when she’s set on stuff.” He makes a face and Enid’s sure she shares it due to her own experience. Then he grins to tease her again, “I meant your little sleep over with your buddy.”

Enid rolls her eyes at his lack of contributing of anything helpful. She picks up one of her fallen plushies to walk back over to her closet.

“Mom wants us to clean before Wends gets here and I thought you were on bathroom duty.” She then looks over her shoulder to threaten him a little, “And If you just came to make fun of her, I can let her know you aren’t scared of her anymore.”

She still remembered the way Wednesday had guarded her after Crackstone. It was a mutual thing, but Addams ancestral magic had the seer in far better shape upon returning to campus.

Her brothers had been eager to see her, to confirm the fact that she finally shifted. Wednesday had shut the door in their face and threatened them with a silver blade.

“You didn’t care before, don’t bother with false sentiment now…useless mutts.”

Suffice to say the twins weren’t her biggest fans, but her bestie was just sticking up for her. Not a lot of people did, if any. Ajax and Yoko being the only ones that came immediately to mind.

Wednesday looked ready to take on her entire pack to keep her favor.

The recollection made her smile, a pleasant rumbling in her chest at someone having her back. Something she could agree on, as mentally her wolf purred its fondness.

The boys had also kept their distance before they boarded the train to leave, as Enid had said her final goodbye.

Currently, Fletcher looked horrified—full body shivering and likely having the same memory.

“Oh hell no, she def still scares the shit out of me—I just meant…” He sits up fully now, looking at Enid funny. He stared at her long enough for her to get another plushy from the ground. “She’s staying in here with you, isn’t she?”

And then she drops the same plushy back onto the floor.

“I-In my room?” Enid squeaked like he had suggested something far more risqué.

It shouldn’t be such a big deal, but—

(Our nest. Get him away from the nest.)

Oh my gosh.

“I-I—“ Enid finds herself floundering, her brother raising a brow in clear confusion. Then more confidently she manages, “I was gonna stick her in Charlie’s bed since she’s probably gonna be gone before they get back.”

This was mortifying enough already, but then Fletcher looks even more confused.

“Oh, did mom not tell you?” He asks next, looking like he wants to take back his words. His eyes become shifty and Enid’s anticipating the worst.

“…Tell me what.” She grits, shoulders taut with whatever wrench is about to be tossed into the thin glass of her remaining peace.

Fletcher starts fiddling with his hair, tucking it back and then picking at bottom of his shirt. Enid growls to make him pick up the verbal pace to which he sighs.

“Charlie and Leo are coming home early, so they can catch the next moon with us.” He finally admits, but back tracks before Enid can freak out. “Its no big deal, right? You were already clearing your bed off, or whatever.”

Sure she had swept, vacuumed, dusted and rearranged a few other things before getting to the plushies. That didn’t mean she was preparing for anything, it…well…

It had been unconscious. She’s been cleaning between hyperventilating everytime she thinks about—

“Because she threatened to behead them!” Enid shouts defensively, making Fletcher flinch. She grabs her brothers arm, yanking him from the mattress next, “Also get off of it so I can finish!”

She gives him a good shove towards her door afterwards to boot.

(Secure the nest. Re-scent it. No one else inside.)

Still not helping! Not even a little bit.

“Whatever you say runt.” Its the last thing she hears her brother mumble before she shuts him out.

Now she had to rearrange her closet to fit all of her plushies. 

She groans to herself, tossing herself on her bed and checking her phone. She finds a text from her boyfriend at the top of her notifications. 

And it’s innocent. Its just a picture of him with his little brother, still too small for the large hat on his head. They both make silly faces with an accompanying text implying he’s awaiting a day they meet.

Ajax: Took this guy to the park and out to lunch. Wish u were here ❤️

And its so sweet. Should be endearing…

It just makes her weirdly uneasy. Like she ate a piece of meat that wasn’t stored well. Her skin fits wrong and her legs get restless. She can’t for the life of her figure out why. She could blame her brother’s words for one. Blame something else. 

Back to cleaning it is.

Chapter Text

She rises with blinking eyes and sounds of bugs and nature prodding her ear drums.

Smell of grass and dewy morning.

Its sun rise, which she supposed was good because she hadn’t slept this late the whole time she’s been home. However, she’s very aware of the breeze of winter morning on her bare skin, though its in touch alone.

Her natural body temperature kept her otherwise unaffected, but was also reason for her mattress.

The cold, damp grass on her back that frosted around her fingertips. She groans when she finally sits up. She smells the air, taking in heady scents of wood and dirt. No animals really in the vicinity…

Not alive at least.

One look to her left, or a simple inhale would tune her into the carcass that sat mere feet away from her. She thinks its some kind of deer if not an elk. Rather, whats left of one of them.

Its bloodied and torn apart, which would explain why she’s not hungry.

(Need to be at full strength to greet her. She will not accept us, if we are weak.)

“Man…what?” Enid speaks to no one, running hands through her unruly hair. Its bad enough she’s woken up outside, naked, covered in blood and stuffed full of game.

(I left a leg for her. Present it as a gift with the head.)

She looked with her lip curled up at the carcass, because she was anything but queasy.

It excited her carnally, in a way that had her claws extending against her will. Had her heart rate accelerating the way it did when she on the chase. She lolls her eyes backwards in sheer exasperation of her own nature.

Because it’s literally inside her.

She thinks its a new low, self esteem wise. To start to grow resentful of the wolf she so desperately wished for all those years. Its just…exhausting. Not to mention confusing as all hell.

And she had made sure to sleep early last night too, because—

“Wednesday!” Enid gasps next, immediately hopping to her unsteady feet. She’s supposed to ride with her dad to the air port today to pick her up!

It only takes one good whiff to figure out where she is. She’s been here before, a few times since she’s been shifting.

She’s luckily not far away from her home by any means. Its the first time she’s not made it to the bed after transforming, but wolves tended to stay near their territory. San Francisco was big, but California had more packs than Enid could count on both paws.

They weren’t on bad terms or feuding, it was more of a respect kinda thing. Push comes to shove it would maybe come up in the quarterly meeting they do state wise. Her dad said they were usually nit picky and more opinion based. Enid’s usually not present, but that was likely to change.

She fast walks back to the house, thankfully early enough that she can sneak back in the nude. Though, she supposed she’s not the only one subject to urge of her instincts come night fall.

She has vague memory of other wolves during her hunts. It took a lot of work to shift out of the moon cycle, but she seemed to do so as easily as the sun goes down. Again, incredibly ironic all things considered. 

Like the Moon goddess herself liked to poke fun at her children and their misfortune.

She’d always been a yippy, chattering pup, but that didn’t mean people were always keen to listen. It was like silver to her senses, suddenly having randoms flank her during stress runs. She doesn’t smell anything on her, nor does she get a whiff of anyone having been near her spot recently.

Upon returning home, feet finally touching familiar grass, she gives a squeak of surprise…

At the fact that her mother is already standing on the porch with a robe in her hands.

“Good morning, my blood pup!” Esther cooed, wrapping her daughter in the fabric. Then smoothes down her hair and cups her face, “How was your hunt?”

Her mom used to keep her on the thinnest of ice just for wanting to hang out with friends late. Had scolded her for being up watching v-lives on school nights.

”You should be studying those pamphlets the Lycanologist gave you!”

But now…

She looked damn near proud of the fact that she didn’t make it home. It sits as all her gestures and words have been lately. Like pins and needles up her arms and a cinch in her spine that has her fighting to relax. Enid gives the barest smile, nervous and uncomfortable.

“Ah, it was ok…unexpected, but well,” Enid murmured, removing her mom’s hands slowly. “I-I guess so, at least. I so didn’t mean to fall asleep out there.”

Its hard to not start making excuses, even with her mom being so cool with things.

She subconsciously wipes at her mouth again, knowing there’s likely still dried blood around the corners and down her chin. Esther chides her with a light smack to her arm, garnering a displeased grunt and glare.

“Never question your instincts!” Esther recites sagely. Holds her finger up as she explains. “Your wolf knows Enid. She must’ve needed it, if it she had you out all night.”

She can’t argue, nor does she think her mother is intentionally being aggressive for once. Still, she rubs at her arm like licking a wound. Kicks at the wood of the porch floor awkwardly, before questioning.

“Dad’s still taking me to the airport later, yeah?”

Esther’s face softens, just to grin at her eerily again. It shouldn’t make her skin crawl the way it does, but her mom still looks like she’s in on some secret.

“Oh, Enid are you nervous?” Esther crooned and teased her with a pat to the head, “No wonder your wolf was overcompensating!”

Enid only covers her face with her hand, bashful under the way she says it.

Insinuations that match eerily close to what the wolf in her head had been barking about when she woke up. Like it does make total sense.

“Yeah, because blacking out and killing animals is a totally normal nervous tick.” Enid pouts and her mother snorts her amusement.

“You’re a proper wolf now, sweetie, it kinda is,” Esther smiles fondly at her, before opening the front door and gesturing with her head. “Now, go get dressed and I’ll wake your father.”

/

A proper wolf…hmm.

Its not the first time someone’s mentioned the same thing in varying ways.

Be it in passing, or glaringly invasive. Mostly is was passive-aggressive, or back handed in that way that often went unspoken amongst her pack.

Its not just her mother, she guesses.

Its been subtle so far, since she’s not been face to face with too many people since she’s been home. Her mother had shoved her facial scars into the phone camera a couple of choice times, but other than that social media remained her domain.

Suddenly wolves in her grade and pack mates back West want to follow her. An uptick in likes on her latest selfie and a ridiculous amount of DMs anytime she posts a story on her Insta. And while she’s a social butterfly at heart, it feels wrong. 

Never been one to shy from attention and terribly needy when it comes to praise…but she felt oddly introverted. Hadn’t left the house alone outside of her hunts.

Her father was very much like her—her mom critiqued her mate to high hell, in spite of choosing him in the first place. Enid didn’t always understand, but they went to bed together every night and her dad technically had equal footing with her mom.

He’s an easy going man, but led firmly.

He was just quiet. Stark contrast to the shrill and proud Esther Sinclair, but maybe it made them work. He’s always been silently supportive, bringing her treats and offering a softer hand.

He never outright disagreed about her, though.

She recalls the den again, but being in there alone with him. Sitting at her father’s desk while he whittled away in mumbled words of disappointment and stake in his hand; her dad liked to carve things. Other than the taxidermy, Murray had affinity for wood against his claws.

As a child she would get little figurines, like mini wolves and tiny bunnies.

But, again…she definitely wasn’t just a pup anymore.

She sat up front in the car with her dad and he nods at her like an adult. He’d been disappointed in her before as well. His silent judgement, with damp eyes and pouty frown.

Like a hound dog, dissatisfied. Enid preferred him contemplative, like when he was working or carving.

“How was your night, pup?” Murray asks as he drives them. He keeps both hands on the wheel and often drove with caution. Far more sure on his own hind paws.

Enid had been twirling her phone in her hands, no incoming texts from Wednesday yet. The last thing had been something about her mother lighting a candle the night before she left. While, Enid didn’t doubt Morticia was a talented sorceress, her wolf held deep anxieties.

Crazy, intrusive anxiety that defied all logic. Of course a plane would be much safer than Enid trekking on all fours and carrying her back.

(We would surely bond during our travels. I would be able to make sure she arrives safely.)

Enid would think a giant metal tank with wings was far more safe than riding a hulking wolf across the country. But, hey! What does she know?

“Still trying to get the hang of things,” Enid replies in frustration after a while. Her dad gives her an inquisitive side eye and she winces. “How long until the wolf voice blends in with my other thoughts, again?”

Murray gives a soft smile in immediate understanding, his head bobbing in a nod.

“Its hard to say, because it technically doesn’t ever stop,” Her dad explains. “Or, it does, just sometimes its louder than others. Mostly when you’re under stress or stimulation. I hear old boy in back of my head all day on full moon weeks.”

He chuckles at talk of his own wolf. Enid knows it well—her father’s wolf was a similar golden coat, though he was more strawberry blonde with flecks of ginger. He led hunts with authority that felt foreign in comparison with his human demeanor.

Enid wonders what it sounded like for him. Such a soft spoken man coming to terms with the gruff barks of a powerful wolf.

“So, forever?” Enid asks, voice going up an octave. Her own anxiety and wolf’s internal monologue fueling her.

Her dad slips a hand over to pat her leg, squeezing reassuringly.

“You’ll get used to it, pup.” He says it like sounds sure of her. Its not the first time he’s done so, but in tandem with everything else she can’t help but be wary. Her father continues, “Eventually it all syncs up—the more content you are and the less you fight your instincts the happier you are on the inside. Like all things.”

Enid turns her head foreward, looking at the expanse of road. Pursed her lips in deep thought, feeling her arms tingle and pulse still racing with the pace of her mental battle.

“What if…” Enid narrows her eyes, then looks back to her father. “What if I can’t do everything she wants me to do?”

Like the absolutely unhinged suggestions she’s been making ever since her phone call with Wednesday.

The extremely graphic descriptions of ‘gifts’ to give the seer that varied on different disembodied animal parts. The weird fixation on her friend and the need to sniff her down, take her to the ne—her room and growl at anyone who tries to enter.

Or the growling because she promised to call Ajax tonight after Wednesday’s settled in.

Her wolf hormones had accumulated in the worst way—perhaps an influx of aggression due to all those years pent up? She’s always been a bit of a push over…

It all must show on Enid’s face, because her dad gives her a sympathetic glance.

“Part of becoming in sync, sweetheart.” He reassures, to which she whines and shoves her head back into the seat. Her dad chuckles, albeit he tries to be understanding. “You’re still young, you have plenty of time to figure it out.”

Or maybe she can ask around about mental muzzles.

(You can’t silence your instincts. We are one.)

She hears that enough from her mom and literally everyone else.

Part of her wants to soak in her father’s words and try to make the best of her situation as she always does. Another part, the more prominently unsettled and alpha—wants to be vigilant. She feels that same thrumming in her bones like when Thing had twitched in bed about the Hyde.

Like she needs to be ready to protect Wednesday.

(And we WILL. Always…we would lay our life down in blood.)

“So, uh—anything else on your mind, hun?” Her dad asks suddenly. Enid has to take a moment to address it, realizing she’d been staring hard at the dashboard.

A flush across her cheeks when she glances to the side mirror and realizes her eyes are glowing.

Oops.

When she looks at her dad she notes the way he’s subtly got his hand over his nose.
Her eyes widen at the overwhelming scent of herself that had over taken the vehicle.

God, she really needed to get it together before Wednesday lands.

“Um, I-I…heard mom told the boys to come back early?” Enid inquires, desperate for a subject change. Something to quell the sudden fight or flight that had her unconsciously suffocating her own dad with her anxiety.

Her father looks grateful regardless, a fond twinkle in his eyes.

“Its the holidays, of course we want all our pups back.” He talks about her brothers, full grown and taller than him like they’re still fighting for milk. Enid snorts, but her dad looks thoughtful for a moment. “Your…the Addams girl. She’s staying for Christmas?”

Not what she was expecting to be asked—at all.

Enid’s mouth works for a second, opening and closing as if she’s been caught doing something wrong.

“I-I’m not—I mean, I don’t know if she’s down to be here that long…” She’s playing with her phone again and tapping her foot. Has to somehow answer while also unpacking why its so hard in the first place.

“She’s important to you?” Her dad asks next, saving her the trouble. Enid huffs out a hesitant laugh, before nodding.

“She’s great and really sweet honestly!” She can’t help but emphasize, but only because Wednesday made it hard to tell. She only showed her soft-ish side to a select few. Enid smiles sheepishly, “Even though she pretends to be grumpy at first.”

She can’t help but gush when she thinks about the seer. Like she’s in front of her very eyes and scowling at her this very moment.

And she would try so hard to look displeased, only to waltz up super close to Enid as if they’re attached at the seams of their clothes. A habit picked up after Crackstone, along with the way she would grumble before allowing the wolf to link hands.

It makes Enid’s grin grow wider, making her cheeks ache despite herself.

“Your mother was the same,” Her dad reveals, shooting her a look. “First time I met her was through your uncle. We were on the same baseball team.”

Seemed her mom’s brother/her uncle Richard was the catalyst to a few things…

“Mom always said it was like fate, chosen ‘by the Moon goddess herself.’” Enid uses her fingers to emphasize the way Esther would flail about, crooning about their first date. She’d make a whole production of it in front of company.

Though, come to think of it she didn’t really talk about how or where they met. Just a bunch of traditional-wolf based language about divine timing. Little Enid ate it up like a real life fairy tale, but nowadays it felt like another comparison to live up to.

Like when she as desperately trying to get her mom to care about her relationship with Ajax.

(Technically she’s still trying to get her take it seriously.)

Her dad only laughs, shaking his head out of love for his mate. He often did, after reluctantly cosigning some of her more batty behavior.

“Thats what she likes to say…but, truth be told I didn’t think was very fond of me for many, many moons.” He admits next and in all honestly Enid doesn’t find it hard to believe. It would make far more sense.

Her dad really was a lot like her technically, in the sense of being a push over. A major people pleaser if nothing else, likely desperate for her mom to pay him a lick of attention. Like the sad puppy he often looked like.

She imagines her dad in her place and her mother as Wednesday, for a stray (albeit mildly concerning) moment. Perhaps she got her patience from her father as well.

Before she knows it, the car has stopped and they’re in parking lot of the airport. And in her conversing with her dad, she’d let a new notification from the Addams go unanswered.

She settles in to read, heart hammering in anticipation. Feels the chill from the outside as they sit idle, car off and her dad settling back with a piece he had been working on carving. He kept it in the glove box, having brought it with him.

Wednesday: I have arrived, however its no rush. I’m quite enjoying myself, watching a passenger experience nausea before their flight.

Which, gross. Maybe its for the best she didn’t see that incoming text, however—

“Wednesday’s landed!” She clicks her seatbelt and announces her departure in the same breath. Her wolf stands, winding up like she’s prepared to drag Enid to the gate herself, “I’m gonna go find her!”

She’s off and led by her snout.

Rather, her nose, but same difference when it comes to her natural senses. Its been even more sensitive since she’s turned, but she’s gotten pretty good at narrowing things down at the same time.

Especially with all the food, foreign people, other outcasts, new sights and sounds. Lots of people tended to bring their vacations home with them. She’s eighty percent sure the family she just passed by had been somewhere with a lot of fresh baked bread. Maybe Europe?

Oh! That guy definitely went somewhere tropical. Enid smells fresh water and fruit, like coconuts and island trees.

(Focus!)

It shouldn’t be too hard to narrow down, but she finds herself growing uneasy the longer it takes. Feels her heart clenching in anxiety as mentally her wolf is pacing and barking out questions like orders.

(Where is she? Lock onto her scent. We know her scent. Find it.)

She frowns to herself at how pushy her wolf is being. As if its her fault she’s in a crowded airport. Its not like its as easy as just thinking about—…huh.

Or…maybe it is?

Come to think of it, the longer she tries to remember the way Wednesday smelled the last time they saw each other, the more potent it became.

The more she envisioned the seer—focusing on the very first time she walked into their room, when the scent was fresh.

Had her wolf known then, too, even before she’d been revealed? Somehow?

Enid throws caution to the wind, though she tries to not look too much like a blood hound when she stands to her full height sniffing the air.

Her heart stops in place the second she finds it.

(Wednesday.)

She’s enough tact to not start sprinting on all fours when her wolf starts howling; her friend was close and smelled almost exactly like she always did. Like an antique store, or smell of the forest her aunt’s funeral had been held.

Familiar, but eerily so.

Had her ears perked up and hairs standing on end.

She couldn’t halt her feet. Couldn’t stop her momentum, or quell her squeal of delight. Wednesday had her back turned, looking at a pamphlet she’d likely picked up while waiting.

Her bags at her feet, the girl was dressed in loose black jeans, black turtleneck and chunky, checkered cardigan . Her boots gave her a few inches, but Enid crashed into the tiny girl easily.

She enveloped her in an embrace from behind without really thinking. The girl’s head to her chest and body tensing.

(Wednesday.)

“Wednesday!” Enid feels something like fuzzy vibrations reverberating through her brain. Pleasant feelings she unconsciously buried herself in, pressing her nose into the back of her friend’s neck.

Her smell was strongest here.

(Scent her. Scent her. Scent her. Scent—)

It takes her entirely too long to remember who her friend is. When she notes the girl not reciprocating—

“Sorry!” She bleats in complete mortification and bewilderment of her own actions. Even though it physically pains her to let go.

Way more than it should.

Wednesday turns to face her proper, wrapping arms to cross in lieu of her where hers had been.

“I suppose I should expect nothing less from your kind. Give a stick and you mutts will run it a mile,” Wednesday comments, not with any real bite. Though, funnily enough she does look flustered. She gives a half hearted glare to Enid, “The least you could do is warn me.”

“Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Enid sheepishly overcompensates, hands up in apology as well. She can’t help bounce in place, in poor attempt to placate the wolf inside that itched to hold the seer again. She stuffs her hands behind her back, “I just had to, I -I missed you so bad and I know you’re like not into that, but I really…sorry.”

(Claim her properly.)

Consent is a thing you know!

Wednesday gives her a full once over, eyes piercing through her bones. That same way she had actually kinda missed, like when she’d wake up towards the end of their time together at Nevermore; she’d find her roommate watching her sleep. Sometimes with Thing perched on her shoulder.

It was comforting in a weird way, like no could touch her under the seer’s eye. Only now Enid could return the favor.

Wednesday hums, eyes settling back on her face. She could tell from the lack of eye contact that her friend was glancing down at her scars. Especially when her eyes narrow.

“You require more affection, then?” Wednesday asks, sounding genuinely curious. She doesn’t look mad at all, though. Enid would sooner call the way she shrugs her shoulders amused, “Perhaps once I’ve settled in.”

Not wanting to spend anymore time awkwardly in middle of the airport, Enid scoops up her friends bags.

The seer only raised a brow, likely used to the wolf’s displays of strength. And she definitely loved the feeling of impressing someone like Wednesday enough, that she’d be trusted with her precious luggage.

“I can wait!”

/

Enid’s talking about everything and nothing. In all honesty she’s beating around the bush.

She wants to conspire with the one person who she would expect to be able to go to. Thought her roommate would delight in plotting against her mom, but the seer had had been firm in her vision. Had even told her to—

“Calm yourself, Enid, you’re going to grow an ulcer,” Before they got back to her dad’s SUV.

Wednesday Addams! The girl who could not be told to quit when it came to investigating the Crackstone mystery. Telling her to relax…

“Which, I normally wouldn’t protest, however, I doubt you’d let me keep it once removed.” She tagged on, somehow making her monotone sound wistful.

Enid only grunts as she tosses Wednesday’s luggage in the trunk of the car. More disturbing than her friend’s advice (?) her wolf more than loves the idea.

(A piece of ourselves to show our devotion. Our blood for her to consume.)

“You wanna do the removal too?” Enid bites back from over her shoulder, ignoring the feral beast in her head.

“I’m confident I could, due to my prior operation on my father’s kidney,” Wednesday drawls. She waits for Enid to finish and close the trunk, likely so her father is less likely to pick it up over the engine. “But, I’m even more confident in my vision. They always come to pass.”

Its said like the seer was not only sure, but that she was not likely to be budged. Wednesday rounds over to the back door of the car, her dad looking over at them in the side mirror. Enid exhales, shoulders slumping.

“I guess…” She murmurs to herself, before opening the car door and letting Wednesday in. Her bags peaked from the trunk—she’d honestly packed quite a bit.

She technically hadn’t specified how long she was meant to stay, either. Her dad had only been assuming she’d stay until the holidays. And don’t get her wrong, she’d love nothing more than to be the one to bring Christmas cheer into Wednesday’s life full blast. Its just…

(A gift. We must hunt her a gift. A head on a mantle…fresh moonflower… skin from a—)

Enid slams the door a little harder than she should. Just cause she had to get used to blood doesn’t mean she wants to hear about it. Even if the flowers were begrudgingly one of her wolf’s better ideas…

She leans back in the seat, buckling in and ignoring the curious look her friend shoots in her direction. While she’s been honest about a lot of things in regards to coming into her wolf, others were a bit trickier.

She hadn’t mentioned the growling, animalistic voice in back of her head, just yet. It’s nothing personal and she knows the seer would probably understand in theory.

And she doesn’t think Wednesday of all people would call her crazy for hearing voices, but the context of said voices, however…yeah no.

Not when she’s stuck in a silent car with her dad and best friend, while her wolf is huffing a million questions at her.

(Ask about her travels. Has she eaten? She looks thinner. Is she cold? She smells different. We need to rescent—)

“So, how was your flight?” Enid asks, voice lifting to drown out the mortifying one in her head. Wednesday gives her an odd look at the volume, even her father giving her a glance out of the corner of the rear view.

He looks amused.

“Fair, though unfortunately there wasn’t even the slightest bit of turbulence.” She mourns, sighing and crossing her arms over her chest. “Uncle Fester is a good pilot…too good.”

Enid reigns in urge to outwardly blanche at the fact that Wednesday did not take a normal flight. Even worse if she begins to think of the danger the tiny seer placed herself in.

“Your uncle has his pilot’s license?” She asks, managing to keep her cool.

Then Wednesday gets the worst kind of smirk on her face.

“Of course not,” She answers with her voice dripping in pride. “Without the law on our back, my trip would’ve taken much longer.”

Enid does a pitiful job at swallowing her wolf’s growls of protest. Has to give the most unnatural sounding laugh-cough hybrid to keep up appearance. 

Moon, help her…this was going to be a long weekend. 

Chapter Text

“Long time no see, Bundy!”

Enid’s blood pressure had been at an all time high since she and Wednesday had been in the car. She defied those highs to medically impossible levels, the closer they got to her house.

They more than sky rocketed past all laws of science, physics and odds when the twins decide to meet them at the freaking door.

Her father had abandoned them to go work in his shed out back after parking. Not that he would’ve been any help.

Enid’s juggling an armful of luggage, a now irritated Wednesday, her snarling inner wolf and what remains of her sanity.

“More like Ramirez,” Fern jokingly corrects his twin, playfully smacking him as they get a good laugh in.

Because, of course she can’t get Wednesday through the effing door without a micro aggression.

“One of my sleeves holds a knife…” Wednesday replies, standing on the porch from where her brothers block them. She steps forward one pace, “…Its forged of pure silver. And I’ve soaked its tip in wolfsbane oil.”

Both twins share looks of varying fear and/or intimidation. Fern full body shivers, Fletcher’s nose twitching and trying to smell her bluff.

“Really?” The blonde boy questions with cock of his head, all the while his twin scrunches up his face.

“Care to find out?” Wednesday challenged, fingers visibly flexing under her long sleeves. Fern leans behind his brother, looking over his shoulder to pout.

“Tsk, figures Addams doesn’t have any Christmas cheer.” He quips, albeit the animosity has faded to something more playful.

Still, the stand off has her body on ten. Holding Wednesday’s luggage was the only thing stopping her from the natural urge to place herself between. She’s already leaning over her friend, a pace ahead and watching the twins like targets.

“Keep blocking the door and you’ll give me ample opportunity to introduce you both to what excites me.” Wednesday comments next, looking as if she wants to step forward. Which could be easily remedied, however Fletcher makes a grave mistake.

He also steps forward. Gets himself in position like he’s ready to take Wednesday up on it and possibly even challenge—

(Defend. Your. Territory.)

Its like a rubber band snapping, the second her wolf recognized someone stepping to Wednesday. It angered her on a primal level, that her friend was being questioned like some enemy beta.

She squares her shoulders and lets out a bark backed by her own latent fury. The twins’ eyes widen, barely seeing her newly found speed and ramped up strength.

“Ok! Out of the way before I drop these bags on your feet,” Enid shoves her way through—roughly. It sends the boys toppling through the door way, grunting their offended ‘hey!’s

Her wolf didn’t like the push back…at all.

It has her jaw snapping, teeth grasping at nothing. She only wants to scare them, maybe mess with them a bit—though her wolf longs to sink its teeth in their neck by the scruff.

Then she’s giving her brother’s a final warning growl, watching in smug amusement when both twins widen their eyes and keep their heads down. Its the only thing that finally quells the pit in her stomach, like releasing a steam valve.

She breathes out a scoff, returning back to her usual equilibrium and kinder thoughts. Her brothers lived to push her buttons, they’ve always liked to pick with her and they aren’t worth her losing more of her cool.

It’s repeated behind her eyelids like a mantra, until she’s sure her eyes are back to their normal shade. She steps over the boys easily, turning to face Wednesday who eyes who curiously.

Those dark pools like murky swamp water, pupils keen to snap like an alligator. Only, they seem…careful. Like she’s trying to figure something out.

Only Enid’s not exactly in position to spill her guts just yet.

“You coming?” Enid asks, when she notices the way her friend hadn’t moved. She tries not to sound as bothered as she feels with the scrutiny. Acts like her behavior wasn’t totally out of pocket and not at all the pacifism she tended to lean towards.

Thankfully Wednesday just nods once, stepping over a groaning Fern.

Enid keeps a keen ear and side eye to the boys when they do get up afterwards. They just scurry out back, following behind their dad.

“Sorry about them,” Enid murmurs as she placed Wednesday’s luggage down near the door way. They stand in the foyer as the seer gives calculated glances around her home.

Wednesday snorts, arms crossed around herself and eyeing the side table where parents placed their keys and things. Takes a single index finger and runs it over the fur hide that covered the table.

“No use apologizing. I’m sure they’ll find multitudes of reasons to negate it,” The seer looks to her and Enid cracks a smile back. For a second she could be delusional and pretend they’re in their dorm room.

Pretend they’re in their beds, gossiping after class where the seer made one of the twins cry.

“Oh, I see our guest of honor has arrived!”

Selene, could she have a moment of peace?

“Enid wasn’t trying to sneak you past me now…were you?” Esther coos, making Enid’s body lock up with the sudden side embrace. She thinks its the meshing together of it all, before she’s fully prepared. Of old and new—not that she could really prep for it.

At least this was playing field she’s more familiar, albeit laced with subtle differences that have her head spinning.

The way her mom would grab her up, sickeningly sweet smile and high voice that begs Enid to be on her ‘best’ behavior. Though, she’s a far cry from impressing Wednesday Addams.

“Uh, of course not!” Enid blanched, nervously smiling and looking between her mom and friend. “Mom you’ve met Wednesday, Wednesday you know my mom, now—“

Enid’s desperate to push Wednesday and her bags up the steps. The way her mom’s nose was twitching, likely smelling the residuals of her meddling brothers now as well—she had to move quick.

But, of course…

Wednesday decides to do the worst offense possible in not only the bestie code book, but basic self preservation by placing herself in middle of the two wolves. Rather, imposing herself to address Esther directly.

“Esther Sinclair,” Wednesday states blankly, like her mother was a label she’s reading off of. “What a horrid day it must be, to see you again.”

In spite of the fierce assurance that her mother had no ulterior motives, the greeting is rather blunt. Granted, Wednesday had a way of ‘welcome’ that didn’t necessarily meet most people’s social standards. Especially someone as pandering as her mom.

Who is taken aback, overtly to Enid’s eyes and keen ear. The way her smile tightens and body tensed—oddly enough, its not anger or resentment she’s getting. No…

Her mother was attacking the way she does when she’s schmoozing.

“Oh, your family always had such an, ahem—‘colorful’ way of expression, hmm?” Esther tries to recover, laughing along politely. Even though Wednesday stares unblinkingly back in absence of replying. Her mom gulps, “Its—um, been some years, but I recall your father having a similar way with words.”

The old name drop.

Classic Esther Sinclair tactic to get an in, in a conversation she feels her charm and ass kissing can’t. Enid never thought she’d see the day it’s happening over her roommate of all people. Doesn’t know how or if to intervene, either.

(Lets see where she’s going with this. I don’t sense a threat quite yet.)

She hums, agreeing with the beast in her brain for once. Its her only real placation in site.

Wednesday sizes her mother up, not a shift visible in her expression. Her brows just barely quirking once her verdict is reached. Enid’s seen it many times, being in company of the seer. Enough to know that her friend wasn’t about to skin her mother.

Still, this entire interaction had her poor heart a step away from bursting. Teetering to cardiac arrest when eventually Wednesday inhales, calculated and prepared to speak.

“Ah, yes…father’s fruitless battle to force acceptance amongst the ignorant pests that call themselves Human Resources.” Wednesday replies neutrally, then with a bit of disdain towards the end. Likely in thinking of the prejudice Enid imagines exists on multiple ends. The seer gets a dark glint in her eye, “I say the court room lacks a certain level of physicality.”

Kudos for not mentioning what exactly those levels entailed, and double kudos for bothering to speak in innuendo at all. Her friend had a knack for dropping the most heinously gory information in a room full of people, like she’s announcing the weather.

Her mother looks none the wiser, simply preening at the fact that Wednesday’s giving her time of day.

(She is impressed by her cold blooded nature. Just as we are.)

Enid squints her eyes at her wolf’s observation.

“Wolf law is a bit more hands on—have you ever thought of following in your father’s footsteps?” Esther starts going on again, not so subtly trying to inquire about her friend’s plans after school.

Bad enough she wants them all to mate with a certain caliber of person. Now she’s projecting her post graduation plans onto her friends.

While Enid sees the Addams name as buried in dark sentiment and a source of pride for her friend; It makes an unfortunate amount of sense that Esther is wooed by Wednesday’s status. Her mom practically has stars in her eyes as she gushes about Gomez’s profession.

“Your father is a fantastic attorney and Enid is going to need a good pack lawyer when she takes over—“

“Maybe save the business talk for after the hunt?” Enid interrupts, levelly as she can. Her wolf didn’t like that one bit.

(Why are you denying tradition? This is the perfect chance to court her! To have her in our pack!)

They’re already besties!

Wednesday may not say it out loud and she still gets a weird eye twitch whenever Enid does—but she had no need to impress, or put on. She had very firmly stated that she was not going to apologize or water down who she is, thanks.

(Its not us that we need her to like!)

Esther either doesn’t notice the war going on behind her eyes, or (more likely) doesn’t care. She just smiles, sweet and inconspicuous with her hand to her chest.

“Of course, where are my manners? Come! Let me show you around the place—I just finished dusting and you just have to see the trophy den…”

(A chance to show her how strong our pack is! How strong WE are! She will know we can provide for her and protect her!)

“Mom—“ Enid holds a tired hand to her head as she tries to drown out the huffing and growling in her brain. The over eager wolf that agrees with her mom and shoving all their assets at people in lieu of simply being genuine.

Her mother continues to wave her off, as if her eyes aren’t probably glowing like a lamp. As if the growls in her head hadn’t begun to rumble in her gut like it needs food.

“Don’t be modest, Enid!“ Esther tuts, before she tries to grab for Wednesday, talking a mile a minute. “As I was saying—Oh, she was such a terror when she was teething! I should’ve known her wolf would be the strongest we’ve had in generations and—my Moon! I still have her favorite chew toy from when she was a pup if you’d like to see—“

Enid felt her anxiety spiking in sheer mortification of her mother’s audacity.

As if from the beast inside, that dark growl creeps up her chest. It has Esther’s words trailing and Wednesday looking to her in attentive curiosity.

“Mom.” Enid grumbles, showing her teeth in a display that felt out of body.

Sure, she’s miffed at the invasion of privacy and the bombarding of her friend, but her hands are literally trembling.

Heck, she’s trembling full bodied like one of those mini toy pups that got walked around in a purse. Feels her muscles threatening to burst and tear her flesh and bones into the caged wolf that was dealing with the influx of feelings even worse.

Like an ice pack to what was simmering beneath her skin, she feels a hand tug her sleeve. A knuckle just barely grazing her hand.

“Excuse us,” Wednesday speaks up first, taking attention away from Enid’s outburst. “I’m beginning to feel the effects of traveling across the country so quickly.”

Enid looks sheepishly to Wednesday after finally managing to blink her eyes shut and breathing out. Shutting the wolf back behind its bars and fumbling with the key.

Begs with their shared looked to not ask questions until they’re safely up stairs. And hopefully communicating her thanks in buying the wolf time to calm down

She looks to her mother with a stern expression, having to re catch her steam when the women looks to bow her head. its a display of submission that probably looked weird if you weren’t a wolf. 

Oh, yeah. Her new rank in the pack makes it harder to challenge her hand now. To critique her actions. Weirdness aside, at least she knows Esther will actually listen.

“Yeah…I think Wednesday needs a minute to sit first,” Enid emphasized with a gesture to the plethora of bags and precise eye contact. “You know…jet lag.”

Its a lame end to her previous bravado.

She hates to play status, hates the way that it took a bunch of werewolf rhetoric to be taken seriously. Felt small somehow, when her own voice meant nothing.

Only the wolf being obeyed. Only ever the wolf.

She’s sure her eyes are blazing.

And her mother’s smile shrinks and turns regretful—at least Enid thinks thats what that emotion looks like on her. She’s not witnessed it often.

“Of course, dear—Wednesday, you flew in from Jersey, hm? You must be exhausted from your travels…” Esther agrees with a polite nod. Then, a more proper smile at Wednesday and bow of her head that looked more like a curt nod to the average eye. But, it was a respect thing. Even the way her mom keeps her head low to mumble to Wednesday, “But, I can show you Ennie’s puppy blanket when come back down.”

She audibly groans to herself, though Wednesday gives a puff of amused air. She doesn’t confirm or deny, but her brows become active in place.

Enid ignores the unspoken question as she carries all of the seers luggage up the steps. Better to blame the sweat collecting on her brow and the rate of her heart on. Even the fluster that was likely painting her body, as the wolf placates itself.

(Finally, we can at least show off the nest.)

Great! Another thing she had to deal with that had been forgotten on the car ride and inherent embarrassment in re-meeting her family. She’d neglected to tell Wednesday that they would be sharing a room…again.

They wouldn’t have enough space for duct tape this time.

She whines low in her throat, mentally dreading the seconds as they ascend each step.

“I figured moving upstairs would calm your nerves, but you’re still whimpering like I’m walking you to the pound.” Wednesday comments, again pulling absolutely no punches and causing the wolf more trouble.

And she can’t even waste her breath being offended, because she still has yet to explain the bed situation.

“Uh, ok so here’s the next thing…” Enid announced once they make it to the second story hall. Wednesday doesn’t answer with much other than her stare, but she expects that by now. She’s more nervous about her own wording, “So, orignally I was gonna put you in my brother’s room, but—and funny thing with that too, actually—turns out my mom asked everyone to come back early for Christmas! Isn’t that wild?”

Enid begins to ramble, nervous laughter littering the end of her sentence. Wednesday doesn’t budge, aside from one infamous brow raise. So, of course Enid has to fill the silence with more of her own self implosion.

“So, that means it’ll be a bit, uh—snug? No, more…what I mean is—“ Enid’s pacing about before she notices. Rings her hands and makes a spectacle, before Wednesday finally intervenes.

A hand actually on her wrist, this time. Its over the sleeve, but the pressure of the grip yanks her both back to reality and face first with her friend.

“Which of these doors is yours?” She asks firstly and all business. Enid’s still whining like a sad puppy, but she points to the door they had been idling near. She tugs the door open softly, giving way to the dim fairy lights she kept on during the evening. “Come,”

She doesn’t really need to say much to get the wolf at her beck and call. Enid feels bad enough about the circumstance, quickly grabbing the bags to scoot into the center of her bedroom.

“Now…out with it,” Wednesday asks promptly. Its as cut and dry as she always is, “I came here prepared to be fully immersed in your werewolf customs. I can’t imagine they’re anymore heinous than Addams tradition.”

Wednesday had made her privy to one of which being the spinning wheel that you ‘get placed on for your birthday, so guests may congratulate each miserable year of life by throwing knives that amount to the person’s age.’

Mainly because her friend had been complaining about missing Pugsley’s while away at Nevermore.

And (while she’d likely regret this thought later) Enid would definitely rather be on said spinning wheel than lead this particular hunt.

“In fact,” Wednesday adds in lieu of Enid’s silent mental war. She just slightly raised a brow, “You promised me mayhem, amongst cloudy skies and brash weather.”

Because it makes total sense that thats what Wednesday’s worried about right now.

(Is she offering to take us on a walk?)

She could laugh at the way her wolf perks up, eyes dilating and tail wagging its anticipation. However, the girl that holds the over grown puppy inside wasn’t able to find the ‘brighter’ side to all of this. 

Its not always easy to make pastels out of everything, you know?

She had a plethora of worst case scenarios playing out in her head: Wednesday and her mom for one. Wednesday and the twins for another—Wednesday and her other two brothers is recipe for her changing her name and moving away.

Pack mentality wasn’t simply a figure of speech, either. If one of them found something wrong with Wednesday in tandem with her making a single mistake during this hunt…

“I just don’t want you to agree to stuff you might regret later.” Enid replies eventually, deciding that perhaps less is more.

Wednesday takes a inconveniently confident step forward. Like when she’s ready to make a point, or drop a verbal bomb that could bring a grown man to his knees.

And had—many times in class, actually.

“That’s for me to decide and as you know I tend to do so quickly when something truly vexes me. Besides…” Wednesday drawled in that way that had Enid hanging on her every syllable. “Its quite rude to take one’s ability to claim comeuppance, Enid.”

She doesn’t mean to roll her eyes, but she’s beyond exasperated. Nor the following growl and hands smoothing down her face the more Wednesday missed the point.

“My family can be really intense.” Enid emphasized with her hands clasped and eyes zoned in on her friend’s unblinking ones. She deflates just slightly at the seer’s lack of understanding…but she’s already started talking, “Especially over pack stuff—this is gonna be my first time even leading a freaking hunt!”

Her voice raises and her arms flail about for emphasis as she works herself up more and more. Wednesday finally seems to catch onto something, her eyes narrowing in like Enid had given her a hit list.

“You’ve had issue transforming?” Wednesday accused more than asked, in that gung-ho way she often did. The seer wasn’t one to really ask questions if she thinks the target is on, “You told me you shifted—“

“Its not like…that.” Enid holds up a hand and talks over her friend, because she’s latching onto the wrong thing. “I have been transforming, like a crap ton more than I’ve told you—I’m like dead ass running out of pajamas—but I always wake up alone. And like…really hungry. I crave raw meat every day now! Raw!”

Pitifully, she fully throws herself backwards onto her bed, til her eyes face the colorful stickers on her ceiling. She lolls her head to face her friend with sad eyes.

Wednesday looks more contemplative than sympathetic.

“Well, you are supposed to be a predator, aren’t you?” The seer states and Enid’s expression must mirror how uncomfortable it makes her feel to hear, so she back tracks. “So, you feel…uncertain about other things?”

Wednesday loses a bit of her tone with that—as she tended to do when it got down to feelings. Like the real beast in the house is the tears of frustration that threaten Enid’s eyelids. And she can’t help it, when no one understands.

She feels like clawing a good hole in the wall, but instead opts to shove her claws into a defenseless plushie to pull over her face. She lets out an absolutely tragic groan into the cotton.

“Did you not get that the first or the fiftieth time I told you I was worried about you being here?” Enid’s snark is as feral sounding as she feels. And if Wednesday’s visible step back is anything to go by.

(You’ve upset her! Quick, place her in the nest to comfort her.)

Enid is the one losing her freaking mind here!

Luckily Wednesday doesn’t give her wolf room to argue, or leave her time to spiral. She had reached a hand forward, only to retreat and eventually huff to herself. Enid’s nowhere near calm, but she eyes her friend wearily.

“I find myself regretfully lacking the…language.” Wednesday quickly makes a face, scrunched up like when she’s talking about her parents. Then a sigh, “Apologies, as I’m not versed in the comfort I believe you may be seeking.”

Oh…wait, huh?

“And I admit to my own narrow minded nature causing me to not consider the…gravity of the…anxieties you hold about your family…” The more she goes on, the more Enid’s head cocks like a puppy catching a weird frequency. “Though, I still fail to see the cause.”

(Say something! Don’t just stand with your tail between your legs!)

Forgive her hanging jaw, but its not every day Wednesday Addams apologizes—unprompted at that! Maybe those therapy sessions she complained about had infiltrated her brain by osmosis, or something?

The whole first semester of their friendship had been spent on the glaring fact that Wednesday didn’t regard other people outside of their usefulness. She can acknowledge in the awkward body language and hesitant wording for what it is.

O…m…g!

Wednesday really had evolved—was trying to comfort her!

Wednesday was trying.

…And Enid had totally just taken out a lot of pent up emotions and bitched at her! It has her sitting back up on edge of her bed with wide eyes.

“I-I mean its fine—you’re fine, I’m not upset with you technically. Its everything else,” Enid stammers, before eyeing her friend’s socks against her rug. Then pursing her lips, she offers, “If anything I’m sorry for not better preparing you, but a lot of this was sprung on me kinda last minute.”

Wednesday continues to surprise her with the way she shakes her head.

“I believe that is where our noose doesn’t properly knot,” She begins. Then, she waltzes forward until she’s directly in front of where Enid’s sitting on her bed. “Any hesitancy to lead, as if you haven’t been single handedly slaughtering your way through the forest every night. The trail of carnage alone must be enough to feed a village…”

She trails with a crazy glint in her eye that Enid knew to be grim excitement.

(She knows how good at hunting we are!)

Her wolf preens, but Enid pulls a face of disgust and great horror. Everytime she talked to Wednesday so far about her solo outings, she asked entirely too many details. The girl started asking questions about body parts, or how it felt to break bones with her teeth.

She could shiver just thinking about it.

“Slaughter isn’t exactly the word I’d like to use, b-but that’s like way different!” Enid has to take a moment—not because the talk of blood, but because she’s still getting used to the way that even bringing it up has her stomach growling. “Ok, so my transformation had a bunch of pack dynamic shifts, right?”

Enid explained with her hands clapping together, while Wednesday nods once.

It was one of the first conversations they had had in all honesty—Enid had been aghast at the title sprung on her. Its unheard of to have the designated runt of the liter promoted so highly. She was inconsolable and stammering tears through their first phone call because she had no clue how to be an alpha.

Before they had even booked their tickets back home after Crackstone. Her brothers had told their mother prompt after the subsequent infirmary stay.

And thanks to the magic of not only the school, but social media—apparently a very low quality video from a student had been making its rounds…

“Yes, you told me you were now the rightful alpha of the Sinclair pack?” Wednesday’s always been blunt, but hearing said title come from her lips…it…it does things to her.

A fuzzy little thing, like a feather tickling her belly from the inside. 

(Yes—THE rightful alpha. She recognizes our strength!)

Thats not necessarily anything new, though…is it?

Wednesday had a weird way of backhanded or outdated (practically 18th century) compliments that usually took Enid a good minute of dissecting before she realizes there’s respect buried in there.

It’s definitely…pleasing to hear it very plainly.

More sincere and tangible to her ears than the fever dream her life had been recently. Wednesday’s opinion of her had never been based on whether or not she could shift.

When Wednesday calls her alpha…its different than when her parents do it.

(She will look breathtaking with our bite.)

Ok, hold on—

(It is the natural order of things, now that our title has been claimed. She is being inducted into our pack.)

“Enid?” Wednesday prompts, snapping her from the newest unhinged request from her wolf. The blonde flinches, a nervous squeak leaving her lips.

“Y-Yeah, so—um, the point I’m making…” Enid starts talking again, after realizing she had gone outwardly silent after starting a new route of conversation. Has to subtly adjust her sweater collfrom her overheated skin, because—what the hell.

Still not the most insane thing her wolf has tried to coax her into, considering the absolute overkill her wolf had been towards her friend. Her mother had told her this pack ceremony was only to thank Wednesday.

And its not the first time her pack-minded brain felt like force adding said girl to the pack. Plus…

A bite? Thats—Enid hasn’t ever—Wednesday isn’t even—

Hasn’t even given Ajax—

Enid coughs, loud and awkwardly in the middle of her stuttering. The seer looks curiously at her, but doesn’t make any comment. She thanks Selene for her friend’s emotional ignorance for this one moment.

“There was an alpha before me,” Enid starts anew, after the heat begins to finally sate from her cheeks. It quickly turns into that mix of guilt, sadness and anger that accompanied most of her family dynamic.
“Part of the reason I think no one was expecting much out of me.”

It takes her mind off of whatever her wolf was getting at, only to come full circle as to why she’s breaking down before Wednesday’s even unpacked. Said girl gives a poorly concealed scoff.

“Whoever the previous alpha is would be foolish to try for your neck,” She retorts as if she’s offended for Enid. And she probably is, because beneath the apathy her friend was gravely protective of those closest to her. Just as she had gotten herself expelled over a prank played on Pugsley.

And Enid would consider herself pretty darn close.

(She would protect us, just as we would give our life for hers. Our pack has potential to be a strong one.)

Enid desperately needs her wolf to use different words to phrase things, because—

“Where do you keep going?”

Enid nearly flinches at the voice not in her head. Her friend has that look again, like she’s trying to figure it all out before she even gives an answer.

“Uh—huh?” Is her totally intelligent response. She doesn’t blame Wednesday for rolling her eyes.

“You’re terribly ditzy, in spite of your grades being on par with mine,” Remember what Enid said about backhanded compliments? Wednesday holds her chin in the fist of her crossed arms, “However, you seem more…dissociative.”

Its not even like she can deny it.

Random pauses and stilts of silence while she argues with the beast in her frontal lobe. Her family was used to it and had all even experienced it. She must look even crazier than she feels to a non-wolf.

(Why keep us a secret, then? She has already accepted us.)

“Just, um—“ Enid absolutely has to keep these thoughts a secret! She defaults to next thing pressing her instead, “My brothers.”

Yes! She had been in the middle of telling Wednesday about why they’re rooming together again. The seer makes a face of displeasure, humming.

“Yes, I’ve carried the burden of knowing them. Shame they aren’t conjoined, or something more worth my time.”

She thinks that her brothers’ wolves combined together into a Cerberus-esque creature would make them twenty times more annoying.

“My older brothers.” Enid corrects, watching a rare show of surprise from her friend. That being the seer’s mouth holding shut and her eyes just slightly widening. Enid sighs, “And the old alpha.”

She watches the understanding grace the seer’s features next.

Enid didn’t not talk about her family, but she tended to spare details on things that made her depressed. Her oldest siblings being one of those things. The lack of relationship when they went off to college that was already strained with her shiftless enrollment into Nevermore.

The twins only really bothered her on campus out of necessity. She never even properly introduced them to Wednesday…no, her friend had only bared witness to her tears.

The solemn look when they would check on her post full moon, to see if she shifted out of sight somehow.

Wednesday had started flanking her on those days to lessen the berating, but still.

“Hmph…” Wednesday hummed after a while of processing. Then more contemplative, “And I thought my parents were voracious.”

Enid clicks her teeth at the response, because she had no idea. Her family—her pack was one of the biggest on the West coast.

“Yeah well, mom’s going through some empty nest thing now too, so she wants everyone back so we can hunt as a ‘real family’ for the holidays…” Enid grumbles, smacking her hands on the bed in her exasperated complaints. Then her brain back tracks a few seconds, making her face scrunch up like she smelled something. “Also, gross! I don’t wanna think about either of our parents doing…things.”

Wednesday rolls her eyes and murmurs something about ‘tact’ and ‘maturity.’ Enid only sticks her tongue out in a defiant display of just how mature she is.

It settles into a lull of quiet afterwards. Soft sounds from down stairs symbolizing her mother likely in the kitchen. Slow whirring from the heat in the vents.

She lets her friend look around the room proper. Sees the clear disgust at the brighter things and the raise of a brow at her cork board full of photo cards.

Its the first time she’s had to really look at her friend since picking her up.

Had she cut her bangs recently? The cardigan looks new too, though Wednesday appeared extra tiny she pulls it up back over her shoulders. She honestly did look thinner, or maybe its just the way she gravitated towards clothes that swallow her whole.

Still, she’s probably hungry after traveling…

Enid’s debating the logistics of sneaking downstairs to stealthily raid her own fridge for the seer, when she turns to address her. Wednesday had stopped precariously in front of her desk, the side where she has the wooden figurines her dad had made her so long ago.

“Do you believe it will be a point of contention to have you lead, even with your current treatment included?” Wednesday asks, albeit a bit slower in delivery. Like she’s actively reigning in her innate way of interrogation vs something more casual—friendly. A clearing of her throat, “I recall you being quote unquote, ‘totes losing it’ when your mother allowed you first pick of dinner.”

Enid fails to hold her snort and subsequent laughter behind her hand at the monotone impression. Wednesday unsurprisingly doesn’t blink, but cocks her head in prompt of an answer. Enid places her hands on either side of her, legs swinging against the bed.

“Yes?…no?…maybe?” She paused a moment to chew her lip and take a steady breath. “My mom’s been my number one supporter so far, which still feels fake by the way and my brothers—“

Enid paused again, because something foreign pricks her ear. But Wednesday nods, as if telling her to keep going, eyes and attention never leaving her.

“So, uh…my brothers kinda just do what she says to avoid conflict. My oldest brother had always been favored and more high in…in the pecking—“

She stops again, because theres that sound again!

(You hear it too?)

Enid subtly sniffs the air next, finding nothing but smell of the Addams manor. 

And Wednesday had just listened intently as she spoke—which, had taken Enid time to get used to. Where she used to beg for the seer’s attention, she found that once she had it, it made her feel like the only thing in the room.

She used to find herself stammering, after moving back from her stint in Yoko’s dorm. When Wednesday had begun to bore those eyes into her skull just because she was talking about a bag she wanted selling out.

And maybe her tunnel vision left her ignorant of their surroundings?

Because right now, Enid definitely hears something. Her eyes scan like she’s being shifty, suspiciously eyeing the smaller bag of carry on that laid close to her friend’s feet. Sees it just slightly shift—

“Go on then,” Wednesday gestures with another nod of her head and subtle hard shove with her foot to the bag.

Enid’s eyes narrow at her, lips pursing.

“Wednesday…” The wolf questions slowly, crossing her arms. “Why is your luggage moving?”

Wednesday plays coy, deciding to sit on her suitcase and rest a foot on the previously sentient bag.

“Apologies, go on.”

Enid definitely sees the bag shifting madly now. Its quaking about, as if there’s a small animal inside, or…

Her eyes bug wide.

“Wait—is…is that—?” Enid leaps off the bed, grabbing the bag from Wednesday’s stubborn foot and quickly unzipping the stark black zipper. And just as she suspected, a certain limb bursts from the opening, flailing on her bed room floor. “Thing!”

The limb shakes himself, before quickly taking in his surroundings and tapping against the rug.

‘Very, very hot. And dark! I almost lost track of time…how are you?’

His spiel and greeting are cut short when Wednesday tries to grab him, with no good intention in her eyes. So, Enid is quick to intercept him, holding him close to her chest protectively.

“Wednesday Friday Addams…” She scolds the seer, who rolls her eyes back for the nth time that evening. “You should’ve let him out at the air port!”

“He was meant to be sneaking through airport security so that Fester could land undetected,” Wednesday explains like it hurts her to have to do so, or (more likely) that she didn’t feel the need to justify at all. She eyes the hand sharply, “Also I made him hold onto my device.”

Thing makes a show of exasperation, pretending to sigh in Enid’s hand.

‘I did exactly as you asked! Now tell me where you hid my top coat back at the manor!’

“That explains why you never replied when I asked where you were…” Enid murmured, remembering how her senses had to guide her. The positive (?) being that she’s learning the limits of her heightened smell post transforming.

The way she was able to find the seer based on memory of her scent alone.

Wednesday grabs the iPhone from her bag like she’s picking lint from her shirt. It doesn’t light up and theres no case or blemishes that imply she’s touched it outside of being gifted it.

She doesn’t make any move to turn it on either, though.

As if sensing Enid’s unspoken questions, Wednesday looks to Thing and then back to her.

“I had to exercise caution and I had no prior training on the amount of tracking properties on this wretched thing.” She shimmies the device in her fingers like dangling an insect. Then, said entirely too casually for Enid’s liking, “I would prefer my stalker not know my whereabouts until I’m ready to reckon with them.”

And if Enid hates the way Wednesday could drop life threatening news like casual conversation—her wolf despised it.

She feels the beast actively rattling in its cage, snarling and pacing circles. Enid can’t make out the feral sounds into anything cohesive.

She can’t even get her human brain together, claws extending as she drops Thing to the ground.

“Your WHAT?”

Chapter Text

When Enid was a pup, she was just as excitable as she is now. Mayhaps a tad bit more energetic, as most puppies tended to be—her mom wasn’t exaggerating about the teething thing.

And she wasn’t lying about expecting a stronger wolf because of it.

Always expected something out of her. Especially when her older brothers bared such strong wolves.

Her plastic chew toys had been laid to waste, graduating to tougher material and their equivalent to raw hide. Used to get fondly scolded when she’d tear into her blankets. Or the time she chewed Fern’s shoe strings, because he buried her barbie in the backyard.

The keen eye on her development had turned to shame soon enough. When no amount of bones, antler or marrow triggered her shift.

“Maybe its that brand you like so much…” Her mother had pondered with a shake of her head.

A little Enid had been carrying around her favorite flavor of jerky, dried rabbit, eyes watering in spite of her fangs coming in.

Because it didn’t mean much of anything since the night before had only left her restless. Restless and aching in her small chest with the disappointment she was beginning to become used to.

Its a far cry from the uncontrollable rippling in her bones, now.

She used to beg for times like these.

For primal rage to finally take over—bitterness over so many years of being called a half-breed or runt of the litter. To show everyone how strong she really was. Be the prideful wolf that she’d been birthed to be.

Had made feeble attempts to act as such, like with her Poe cup victory.

It seemed the beast in her head became the most active when under attack. That thing like fight or flight when an animal is ambushed—her pack ambushed.

Wednesday under attack.

(No one will lay a hand on her.)

It had been this way with the Hyde, the panic coursing through her nerve endings. Enid had often chosen flight, to either dim her light or drown her sorrow in pink that was pigmented enough to cover it up.

Thing’s flailing fingers had ignited something in her brain and she’d taken off to the woods without even thinking.

Hadn’t even known she’d wolf out in all honesty…she doesn’t know what she would’ve done if she hadn’t.

But…she did.

(We did. We protected her—we will always.)

And so again…for Wednesday she chooses fight.

Her eyes widen and then cinch back shut in pain as her muscles ache and expand. It tears through her clothes, though not entirely—its like bulging skin and tufts of fur. Her body grows and bones start to break and shift, but she’s missing her lunar cue.

Shifting should be impossible. It was impossible…in fact this feels very different?

She feels…somewhere in between.

Her teeth gnash outward, mouth expanding and curling into something wolfish. Not quite her snout, but certainly not human either. Her nose twitched frantically, as if she could pick up whoever dared threaten Wednesday under her eye.

On her territory.

“Who.” Is barked, harsh and beyond herself. Its not a question anymore, but a demand the longer it goes unnamed. The more time that passes with Wednesday in possible danger.

Her eyes scan the floor beneath, making her realize how tall she’s gotten. At least doubling her size, now actively ooking down at a trembling Thing and wide eyed Wednesday.

The hand starts signing frantically, but her vendetta ridden brain couldn’t care to make it out. Her eyes were zoned in on only one.

“Tell me a name.” Enid snarls, the wolf not satisfied at the lack of target. With Wednesday being an apparent target.

She keels over with the force of her own anger, clutching her head and feeling her ears spring from her scalp. Lets out a threatening growl, low and guttural as her body and mind battle.

(This whole time…she could’ve been killed under our watch!)

The seer before her looks to the hand tugging her stocking, shooting him a look and exchanging harsh, whispered banter that was not at all what Enid asked for.

She needs a trail. She needs a name. She needs blood. She needs—

She feels a hand—Wednesday’s hand, touching her arm. Her tensed forearms and torn fabric of her clothes giving to tiny fingers. It staves off a bit of the murderous urge in her chest, but still she can’t help the growl low in her belly.

Even with Wednesday leveling with her. With those dark eyes looking back at her, unwavering.

“I assure you, I have the situation under control.” Wednesday makes the attempt to quell her raging beast, but thats the last thing it wants to hear.

(Who knows how long she was being followed!)

Her wolf bared teeth and another sharp bark escaped her mouth in lieu of calling bullshit. The seer visibly huffs from her view below, garnering a growl from the wolf. And then she—

Wednesday flicks her. Right on her nose!

“The barking and growling when you can obviously still speak like this is very unbecoming.” Wednesday quips, taking advantage of the way Enid and the wolf become aghast. “As I was saying, my situation is already handled for the time being. Thing disabled any ability to track my location here…pity as its my first legitimate stalking, but I figured your reaction would be less than desirable. And I see I was correct in doing so.”

Wednesday’s still moving entirely too calmly for her, but funnily enough the wolf feels a certain level of obedience that Enid can’t begin to fathom. No more demands thundering around her head, but still on high alert.

Beside herself, she still can’t help the whine pulled from her maw.

Wednesday’s keen to ignore it, simply blowing air from her nose and stepping in line of her fangs again. Enid’s eyes widen comically at the seer not only initiating touch, but getting so close to her precariously sharp teeth.

“Hmm…what would you say your bite strength is like this?” Wednesday ponders, turning her head by the chin, inspecting her like an experiment. Enid gives a ruff of indignation at the question, to which the seer hums. “I suppose you wouldn’t have a proper unit of measurement, would you? Perhaps you can show me during this infamous hunt I’ve been promised?”

But Enid just whimpers again, feeling the words go straight to her own pride. The wolf in her preens, where the girl wants to shrink away. Like her common sense and instincts doing flips for sport in her stomach.

They only really agree on one thing.

“Whatever you ask of me…” Her gruff voice, that still sounded strange to her own ears starts speaking before her logical mind catches up. Her hand, laden in tuffs of fur on the back and claws extended goes atop her friends on her face. “I will hunt for you—I will kill for you.”

Wednesday’s eyes widen just slightly. Enid internally blanches at her own admission.

She’s never been one for grand displays of violence. Gift giving was a love language she was well versed, yes…but the absence of life had never appealed in such a way. Even in her nature, when in back of her mind she can’t help but feel anticipation at every animal caught in her jaw.

The call of her wolf to give. To supply to the pack.

Though she craves more than a woodland creature, or black bird that her friend would appreciate. She sees some faceless thing—a person between her teeth. Whoever dared threaten her friend; ripped apart and laid before the seer with her tail wagging dutifully.

Even if Wednesday didn’t seem to be worried. Didn’t react much at all, still opting to admire her fangs and then her bright, feral eyes.

“Flattery doesn’t make up for the drool on my person.” The seer replies after a moment of extended eye contact that somehow made Enid feel much smaller than she was. To emphasize, the hand lets go of her face to pick at her damp sleeve.

“S-Sorry, just—“ Enid clenched her fangs together in frustration at her speech pattern. The growling on top of the extended teeth, “Can’t calm down.”

Because even with Wednesday attempting to soothe—the threat still remained. Her friend still had every chance of leaving a trail! She had been correct in not trusting technology after all. Even more so in not understanding how to use it.

How does she know the stalker wouldn’t assume? That they would give up? People hack the cloud all the time!

“Fascinating…” Wednesday marvels next, eyes black and pupils swallowing irises whole. She’s back to analyzing her like a walking textbook, “It appears you’re not fully wolf—but you’re not entirely Enid, either.”

Enid doesn’t find the novelty in her body stress shifting before the sun’s even down. Probably why she’s…whatever she is right now.

Her keen ears pick up on some passive aggressive tapping from Thing, having crawled on Enid’s bed to better see. She caught the tail end of him mentioning the seer’s ‘tactless delivery.’

“You left me no choice,” Wednesday snarks back. “Acting as though you were desperate for air in there when you don’t even have a nose.”

Enid watches the two of them go back and forth for a moment, up until theres a tell tale knock on her door. Six rhythmic taps that symbolized her brother—not that she can’t smell him through the door.

“Just got back with dinner!” Its Fletcher’s voice, thankfully through the door and not opening it. “Finish scenting down your human and come eat!”

That explains why he didn’t open the door. To further her humiliation of course.

“I aught to slip the remaining wolfsbane oil in his drink…” Wednesday murmurs, eyes narrowing towards the door.

Enid tucks her ears back, feet padding anxiously in place. Her tail wags in spite of herself still, with the promise of fresh kill downstairs. Its a conglomerate of things that battle with the eerily quiet beast in her head.

“Shit, I can’t go down like-like this!” Enid whines, a pitiful sounding howl passing with it. “I don’t even know what this is!”

Come to think of it, her wolf’s interjections had gone completely silent. Aside from innate feeling—instincts, along with the state of her body being prominent. Her sensitivity to every move Wednesday makes.

Her eyes follow the seer, who goes to another one of her luggages. She unzips to reveal a handful of books amidst vials that Enid hopes are skin care and not more deadly concoctions.

The Addams grabs a bigger looking book, forest green and hardback. The title is in another language, but she feels like the word for wolf would call to her no matter what.

El Camino Del Loba

Apparently, her friend had been reading up on her all those times she told Enid to stop texting her because it was distracting. It even had a book marked page that popped open initially. She’s not sure if its for better or worse, even as her heart beats a bit faster in endearment.

Wednesday looks contemplative. Like she’s standing in front of a new murder mystery board and connecting lines.

“Unfortunately…they may be the ones to hold the answers.” Wednesday says, after a good minute of skimming through some pages so fast she’s not sure how she read anything. At her confused cock of head, the seer sighs, “I’m privy to a lot of things, however werewolves hadn’t piqued real interest until fairly recently.”

She explains with a glance up at her, likely in subtle acknowledgment of the reason she cared at all. It had her tail going just a bit faster, even if Wednesday eyed it warily.

“I’m afraid your kind had always been rather…excitable for my tastes.” The seer tags on as Enid pouts and huffs air to tease back and muse up her bangs.

An understatement, considering the way Wednesday regarded most of the furs that weren’t Enid. Partially due to how they used to treat her, but even more so in lieu of being ‘in company of over grown puppies.’

“Thus, I find myself ignorant on how you’ve managed to become this way with no moon or lunar energy in sight…though, perhaps thats why you seem so…”

‘Half and half?’ Thing interjects, to which Wednesday nods her agreement.

“Precisely.” She concludes, causing Enid to continue whimpering pitifully.

Of course this is the one thing Wednesday doesn’t have scary encyclopedic knowledge about when it comes to monsters and creatures.

Her tail tucks itself between her legs, albeit uneasily as she thinks of presenting her conundrum to her parents instead. Because, unbeknownst to Wednesday, her father’s study likely held clue if not the man himself. Every pack had some kinda record keeping, unless some tragedy like weather or purposeful sabotage got in the way.

She used to get stories acted out with her dad’s wooden toys. Of brave ancestors and glory days to boost moral and encourage her to shift. Even though eventually it started to become another thing she wasn’t living up to…

As if sensing her unintentional beginning to spiral, Wednesday snaps her fingers twice. She has a look of amusement that does little to quell her inner turmoil.

“You’re extra obedient this way…perhaps I should allow you to suffer like this bit longer.” Enid’s growl and ears going back tell a different story. Wednesday sighs, as if it pains her to do otherwise, “Shall we take the plunge then?”

With a nod of her head towards the still shut door. On que, the wolf doesn’t growl but her stomach does.

“Dinner.” Enid speaks with her hand (paw?) on her rumbling belly. She feels her nose twitching—it had been since Fletcher mentioned fresh meat downstairs.

“Yes, lets hope those two mutts caught more than flies in their useless maws,” Wednesday murmured the last part, but Enid snorts her humor as best she can.

Its like a tricky scale, the way her friend’s apathy and fearlessness could bring her either comfort or…well…

Enid yelps when her bedroom door opens to find that she’s having a little bit of trouble fitting…

Cut to—

“Watch my tail!” She whines, as Thing tries to help push from the inside. A tap of apology and grunts of exertion from Wednesday’s less than enthusiastic tug on her arm from the hallway.

“And you wonder…why I call you…over grown!” Wednesday grunts, changing her grip and giving one final pull.

With that they can’t help but tumble out of the doorway as gracefully as they can. With Wednesday narrowly avoiding most of Enid’s weight.

Unfortunately, the thumping tail to the face left much to be desired…

“Sorry, still getting used this!” Enid whimpers and whines, to which her friend reigns in her frustration. With her hand held up, twitching eye and hard scowl.

Thing was to stay upstairs and with Wednesday’s phone. Meanwhile, the two girls fix themselves from their place on the ground and exchange a glance as they prepare.

Wednesday dusts off her pants, as Enid’s stomach begins to rumble even more. The smell of dead animal was pungent enough for both of them to smell. She was no wolf, but the seer’s nose was impressive in its own right.

The creaks of the steps heavy with the added weight of fur and muscle. She lets Wednesday go down first, taking the stairs like the heiress that Enid often forgets she technically is. Though, her living room and kitchen walk way is a far cry from a debutant’s ball.

“Chin up, Enid.” The wolf looks up at the command, seeing Wednesday had paused to allow her to catch up. Dark eyes meet hers with purpose and the blonde wolf squares her shoulders a bit more.

She swallows her puppy-esque whimpering in exchange for a high held head. Ducks under the kitchen doorway, catching tail end of her dad’s story on how they caught 2 massive deers sitting on the kitchen table.

Her brothers were making quick work of disemboweling the animals.

Her mother catches her eye first.

“Oh my!” Esther exclaims, hand over her mouth and sending even more attention her way.

“Whoa—how are you doing that?” Fern looks up at her with bright, wide eyes. “Its not even sundown!”

Unsurprisingly, her father makes a rare exclamation, lighting up upon seeing her hybrid form.

“Amazing…I’ve only ever heard stories—“

“You know what’s happened, then?” Wednesday’s the one to cut him off, questioning him without a beat. 

Murray nods quickly, sitting a bit straighter in his seat.

“Our wolves act as our baser instinct. It knows only black and white—sun and moon,” Her father sagely recites a spiel she’s heard a million times since she was a pup. Wednesday looks intrigued enough, listening along. “Its second nature to follow our goddess, Selene when she calls…however, theres been tale of those who act upon her will. Be it to protect the pack…or their mate.”

Her dad adds that last bit with a twinkle in his eye and glance between Wednesday to Enid. It makes her happy she can’t blush herself faint, with her face half wolfed out.

Beside her, still standing closer to the doorway than not, Wednesday hums. She gets a strange look, brows knitting and hand going to rest on her cheek.

“I see…” She mumbled, likely miffed at the fact that Thing had said similar.

Along with the obvious implication of why Enid’s felt any unrest. When all they’ve done was lock up in her room for a good half hour or so…her mother is looking between them both like she’s the one that caught dinner. Her smile and squinting eyes make Enid just a bit more unsettled.

“Something happen upstairs between you girls?” Esther questions, brow raising like she’s going to scold her.

And Enid can’t stop herself from taking the bait. And sticking her paw in her muzzle, per usual. Rather, ungracefully extending her hands and scratching the doorway to the kitchen on accident.

“N-No! Nothing at all—why would you even say that?” Enid finished her defensive reply with forced chuckles and eyes darting around for a leg to stand on.

Unfortunately, the first to speak is the twins.

“How long is she gonna get to look cool for?” Fern asks at the same time as Fletcher questions, “When can I do that?”

She reacts with more exasperation than anything else, blowing annoyed air from her snout. Its better than when they would rib her at the dinner table, but no less unhelpful.

Wednesday seems to take greater offense, stepping to the kitchen table to sit, scooting the chair out with purpose. The sound of wood against the kitchen floors making Enid’s ears tuck back.

“You couldn’t even take time from chasing your pitiful tails while Enid was taking on a Hyde.” Wednesday quips, as if she was the one disrespected. And she’s always been there when Enid’s brothers are being assholes, but this felt different.

It leaves that same thrumming in her chest that was becoming more familiar. The taut emotions that tugged so innately.

She’s once again confident enough to anticipate her brother’s retaliation. The way Fletcher stands first, hands still caked in deer blood. She imagines his ego feels extra bruised, with his kill fresh on his hands and a non-wolf questioning his strength.

“I’ll show you pitiful—“ His own claws extend into the table, showing his fangs through gritted teeth.

Enid’s reaching across the table and shoving his head down before she can blink. Fern leaps into action next, but before Enid can grab him Wednesday’s at her side and pointing her dagger in his face.

“Alright!” The sound of a clap and a curiously smiling Esther Sinclair has all parties halting in place. Her mother’s eye go to the twins first, “Boys, its rude to play with your kill after its been brought back to the pack.”

Fletcher holds his mothers eyes for a long moment, rubbing back of his head before plopping back in his seat. Fern looks like he has a protest brewing, so his sibling yanks him down by the belt loop. Her mother smiles in satisfaction, but then regarding the other two.

Wednesday has her lips taut, blade slipping back under the sleeve of her cardigan. Enid has a hard time tearing her eyes away to address her mom. As if she thinks harm will come to the seer somehow.

“Its alright, Enid…” Her mother interrupted her thought trail and brings attention to her own jaw locked tight in tapering rage. And the fact that her not only her father is covering his nose, but now the twins were as well. “Theres no threats here, sweetheart. We’re your pack, remember?”

Its said like quelling a wild animal—which, she’s likely not that far off.

Her siblings had both pulled their shirts up over their noses to block her scent. If Wednesday was affected at all she certainly wasn’t showing it, having sat herself down begrudgingly as well.

Enid chuffs, grumbling shaking the table and seat as she plants herself next to Wednesday. To Esther’s delight, the table is nearly full and a lull of quiet, aside from bones and breaking done animal parts.

“Enid, would you like to serve our guest first?” Her mother prompts, interrupting the way she had begun to space out, eyes deep in the red of the animal’s flesh.

She locks up a moment, looking around the table and finding expectant eyes.

Oh…right. Thats kinda her job now, huh…

She licks the front of her teeth before she opens her jaw to sink down into the thigh of the deer closest to her. Feels the warmth of fresh kill hit her tongue, a pleasant feeling encompassing her brain with the taste. She growls softly as she rips the leg off its hinges.

Its placed ceremonially in front of her friend. Wednesday’s expression is blank as ever and Enid has a moment of regret. She’s never seen the seer eat meat come to think of it, what if—

Except her thought process is halted the second Wednesday lifts up the hulking body part to take a bite.

Her teeth are nowhere near the size and strength of the other wolves at the table, her smaller canines make easy enough work. The brunette somehow makes eating raw meat look prim and expensive.

And Enid must stare for a little too long, even after passing out portions to the rest of her pack, because the seer stops eating to stare back.

“You’re no longer starving, then?” She inquires, with a raise of a brow. Enid shakes her head and smiles back sheepishly.

“Sorry, sorry just…didn’t think you ate meat,” The wolf mumbles back, knowing their privacy in the moment was limited. “I’ve only ever seen you complain about lunch vs actually eating.”

Lunch was usually watching Wednesday stab into fruits. Carving the skin off like…well, skin. She made peeling apples look like something out of a snuff film.

Ironic the way her tiny fingers hold rhe bone, blood lightly smudged against her lips. Like they’re meant to be sitting posh.

(She looks glorious with our pack’s kill!)

Yeah…that’s why she can’t tear her eyes away from her best friend’s lips like a freakin weirdo.

Totally reasonable. Ugh.

“I only ever eat meat when its fresh,” Wednesday takes her thumb, wiping the blood from her mouth and popping it into her mouth. She hums, before asking, “Would you mind passing me the salt?”

She does so wordlessly, having to rip her eyes away from the blood still smeared on Wednesday’s lips long enough to focus on her own meal. She was so hungry…but something in her had to make sure the seer by her side was eating first.

Had to stop herself from peaking over like a creep periodically.

Usually it takes a village to tear her off a hunk of meat. It takes a lot of self restraint for any carnivorous animal to step away from a fresh carcass.

“Enid,” Is called from her side, making her actively look at Wednesday instead of sneaking glances. The seer uses her hand to nudge her plate, leveling her with her eyes, “Eat.”

Its quaint and shes quickly back to her own food, but it does the job for whatever reason. Like her body was waiting for the go ahead.

The first bite of food is euphoric as ever in her wolf form. She’s a bit more lucid than normal, fully taking in the strength of her own teeth. Her elongated tongue helping prod meat from the bone.

“Enid!” The call of her name from her brother makes her growl at being interrupted. But Fletcher’s leaning over the table again, “Your ears are gone.”

Oh?

Enid flattened her hands on her head, not even caring about the blood on them. To her surprise, they had sunken back into her scalp.

As if spurred by her recognition, the rest of her body follows in tandem. First the tufts of fur, similar as to when she’s fully wolfed out. Her arms shrink next, one by one in what must be a terrible contortion of body parts as she notes her height changing as well.

Its far more painless than a full transition, but still she finds herself grunting as her spine clicks back into place with a gross sounding pop.

“Give her some space, kids,” She hears her father in her peripheral. Chairs push back and table shifting.

All the while she’s very aware of the body that remained unmoving next to her. Wednesday sat still by her panting body, wordlessly shuffling off her cardigan.

“You may want this,” She mumbles, Enid taking in the fact that her torn sweater looked like scraps more than anything else. She sheepishly shrugs it on, feeling her back crack. Wednesday tilts her head, “I suppose you really were that hungry, then?”

But Enid finds her adrenaline still going high, heart pounding and breathing heavy. She meets eyes with her father, seeing something sagely in there. The way he holds his lips taut, like he has something to say.

A precursor, Enid knew, of a conversation likely to come. She swallows down the after taste of gamey meat and looks back to Wednesday with a half hearted smile.

“I guess so.”

Chapter Text

Dinner sits in her belly like a boulder.

Even though she takes her time, for wolf standard. In comparison to the snarls and gnashing of teeth and bones around the table. She keeps her head down, sheepishly picking over her meat. Even if she’s still so hungry. She keeps a hand taut around the fabric of Wednesday’s cardigan.

Finds that it’s comforting to have her scent so close, but not understanding why.

(But you have an inkling…don’t you?)

She huffs, scrunching up her nose at the wolf’s comment.

The warmth and homey feeling like she’s standing across where the duct tape used to be in their dorm. Its familiar and sets her heart to a cadence close to sleep.

She inhales it again, basking in the quiet it brings. It shuts the wolf up again if nothing else…so, does it really matter?

When she dares look over to her parents it starts to.

Her mom is one thing, but now her dad is giving her the eyes now too. Like she’s only delaying the inevitable by pushing her meal around instead of finishing. More than one time garnering a—

“Need something, pup?”

And her stammering reply of:

“N-No! Just digesting, haha…”

Not to mention the weight of Wednesday’s eyes. The curiosity, laced with clear apprehension and suspicion. She knows the seer and her appetite for mystery—in a way its akin to her thirst for gossip. Perhaps she should recruit the raven to snoop for her sometime…

If she makes it back to Nevermore in one piece that is.

No. If she follows that train of thought she’s going to end up in that hybrid-wolf-state-thing again…she thinks?

(Its not easy to shift without the moon, you know.)

Enid barely holds back a scoff—not easy? She’d just made a spectacle and its suddenly not easy?

Wednesday nudges her with her leg very suddenly.

“What are you scoffing at?” The seer asks suspiciously, brows knitted together.

Shit—guess she didn’t hold it in after all.

Think fast Enid, you’ve gotten yourself out of worse…

“Just…remembered someone said that LOONA will be better without Chuu,” Is her suspiciously on brand reply. Also on brand comes her overcompensating ramble of, “Because it wouldn’t be LOONA without her, or-or if any of the girls left, right? And their company sucks ass, like don’t even get me started on their contracts…”

Ok, now she’s actually kinda getting a little bit heated.

Wednesday only looks at her strangely, as if she sees through it too. But, Enid likes to think her friend looks at everyone that way. However the way her heart’s starting to thud may vary.

“Ok…you guys are being weird,” Fern announces, after clearing his plate. Wipes his bloody hands on a napkin as Fletcher nods rapidly.

“Can we be excused, Alpha?” Fletcher mock begs, batting her lashes. Enid grumbles momentarily, but decides it best to pick her battles in this instance.

Its best the two of them be gone for whats sure to be the next thing to contend for ‘most embarrassing conversation ever had.’

“Die—I mean, sure.” She quips, finding a small win in the middle finger she gets back. Just as swiftly the twins are giggling and shoving each other on their way towards what was likely the stairs.

Her parents are oddly quiet, but she doesn’t dare mention anything. She didn’t want to jinx her only possibility of escape.

“Well, now I’m beat and stuffed. How about you roomie—ready for bed right?” Enid prompts, grabbing Wednesday by her wrist and ready to tug her in the same direction as her brothers had gone.

And she almost gets away with it.

Her dad had started dealing with the remains and her mother goes to place the plates in the sink. Its not even Wednesday’s aversion to touch that stops her (though the seer definitely mumbled something about not being tired)—no.

She thinks Selene just likes to see her cry.

“Oh, Enid!” Her mother calls from over her shoulder. She stops in the doorway with baited breath and biting her lips shut. Her mother continued, “Your father and I wanted to have a little chat with you before you head up to bed. If you don’t mind?”

She cheeses up her smile, meeting her father back at the table and placing hands on his shoulders where he sits. Enid can’t help put feel a few feet shorter, hands behind her back.

A ‘chat’ meant nothing good. Not in these circumstances.

“Uh, can’t it wait til morning?” She chances, then looks frantically to Wednesday’s otherwise blank face. “Just, it’s Wednesday’s first night in a strange house and she’s probably—“

“I’m quite alright actually, I believe I’ve more than proven I can hold my own here.” Wednesday states confidently, stepping past Enid and glaring her parents down. Her arms crossed, she begins questioning, “What are the parameters of this discussion?”

Oh god no.

Enid laughs nervously, uselessly tugging Wednesday’s sleeve.

“Thats not—“ Enid desperately tries to interject on top of the new apparent task of convincing Wednesday to go to her room.

Luckily, her mother is a pro at deflection. She waves her hand, giving a polite laugh. Better than the crazy way she’s been eyeing Wednesday all night, practically preening as she finished her plate. More reason to beg the girl to be their pack lawyer or something due to fitting in with their customs.

“Oh, nonsense—you’re our guest!” Esther croons. Wednesday doesn’t budge, even when her mom makes gesture to the door way. “So, you can head on up with the boys while we talk with Enid…wolf to wolf.”

Wednesday tightens her jaw, likely deciding a rebuttal. Her friend hated being excluded due to her status and loathed being told ‘no’ even more. However her father decides to speak, clearing his throat first and standing up from the table.

“Actually…I was thinking it would be just me and Enid this time.” Murray admits, nodding at Enid and then more sheepishly to Esther he places a hand on her arm.

Enid watches her mother go through the twelve stages of grief, her father shrinking under her fiery eyes. Its eerily silent, before her mother hums loudly, plastering on her faux smile. One that said it was best to not go near their room later that night.

“Oh! Well then…” Esther’s voice raises a few octaves. Her smile tight, she looks to Wednesday, “I suppose I can lead our guest back upstairs then?”

Wednesday no longer looks unhappy to go. Actually, she looks to be sizing her mom up. Enid blanches as if she offered to let Wednesday go through her puppy photos again.

“That won’t be necessary—“ Enid tries fruitlessly, as she’s ignored by the room entirely.

“Hmph, I accept.” Wednesday nods, nose up to her mother. Esther just grins, eyes closing in contentment like she’d won something in the end.

Meanwhile, Enid is anticipating several L’s…

And she has no real excuse to pull rank, lest she felt like explaining several other things she’d rather not.

Wednesday only looks to Enid to roll her eyes, likely seeing the way her blues had started glowing. If her stilted expression wasn’t enough.

“You have my word, Enid. There will be no blood.” The seer promises, though she does so loud enough that her mother’s eyes widen for a moment.

Before Enid can attempt damage control, her dad is clasping an arm around her.

“Come on, pup.” He’s keen to drag her away, even as she frantically tries to look back to make sure her mom and Wednesday were still in one piece.

/

Enid sits on her hands.

Its a habit, mainly out of anxiety that bridled over during talks like these. Ever since her claws came in, its much easier to keep it at bay and her head down. She doesn’t know what to do with her shame anymore.

If it should exist at all?

(Wednesday told us to keep our head up. Do so with pride!)

Enid has a complex relationship with pride. Self esteem a close second.

The poe cup was the last time felt she earned something. Most of her victories tended to be so bitter, she had to cover them with stickers and hearts to deal with. Her own self congratulation, like buying herself a new plushie after getting her grades back.

Never in this house. Never in this room.

She hates being in the den.

Her dad sits across from her at his desk. He leans back in his chair, focused on a new stick of wood. Its shaped wide, with a sharp peak. He tended to draw off of nature.

Probably finds inspiration in the trophy wall, or the fur blankets and hides that lay on the chairs and couch. Enid still can’t look at the wall of heads for too long without feeling a pit in her stomach. Each kill staring their vacant, yet still judgmental eyes.

She doesn’t make eye contact with it unless she’s brought to.

“Enid.” The low voice has her eyes darting up. She fights to loosen her shoulders, finding it hard to drop the nerves even if she holds her head up. Her father looks thoughtful, no longer whittling, “You’re shaking again, pup.”

It doesn’t do much to cease the trembling. She just bobs her head, sheepishly smiling just a bit.

“Can you blame me?” She doesn’t mean to sound snippy, more so incredulous. Especially when her father continues to stare patiently.

Sagely in this way that makes her wolf grow as stir crazy as she feels.

“As I’m sure you heard…your case is unique, but not unheard of.” Murray starts, using his carved wood to gesture.

“Which means…?” Enid asks slowly, only to hear wolf chuffing protest.

(Being impatient. Our sire knows.)

Enid’s claws dig a little deeper into the seat of the chair. Her wolf is a total hypocrite to try and tell her about patience. Her father looks wary before he continues.

“There have been—are others like you. Blood moon wolves graced by Selene herself to act with her will. The power to turn without moonlight…bestowed amongst a chosen Alpha.” His eyes fall heavily onto hers, his own flashing with his nature.

Chosen.

After years of being called a halfbreed…

Her wolf puffs its chest out, feels rightful and her heart swells with pride. Simultaneously, it coils in her stomach like nausea. Clashing pitches that have her mouth opening and closing, tongue tracing her teeth to ground her racing mind.

(Our sire has recognized our strength!)

It longs to howl to sunset, til the moon raises for the night.

But it makes so little sense. She’s so wary still, because its brand new territory.

“You said there are others like me?” Its the first thing she has to confirm. Because it sounds so story book—her culture often gets likened to a fairy tale, due to normie ignorance and pack privacy.

She often learned their history by word of mouth. Even now, her father fixes his in an odd expression as he thinks.

“You remember the story of the brave little wolf?” Her father asks, to which she slowly bobs her head in recognition. Its not what she asked, but it sends her brain back a good decade. “The brave little wolf who saved his pack. When the moon burned red and they were under attack. The brave little wolf was only one who could fight back…”

Enid’s eyes widened, speaking the last sentence in tandem with her father. Murray smiles as she looks to understand. What put her to sleep as a pup making sense in hindsight.

A nursery rhyme that her brothers probably knew too.

She feels dizzy suddenly. Queazy like the meat from dinner had been rotten.

“Record keeping of this sort of thing is kept between certain packs.” Her dad rushes to explain, but she’s already aware of that much. Wolves were too territorial for their own good. “Its such a rarity, it would be a too much of a risk to disclose identity to non wolves—especially normies.”

There were classes that only wolves could take back at Nevermore. 

Old documents and photos left with her remaining grandparents as the family elders. The library that was buried like a bone off by a beach on the coast. Wolves were protective of their own in that way.

You could become a lone wolf very quickly for disclosing too much to someone not at least married in.

The most powerful wolf she’d known had been her grandfather for so many years, up until Leo had turned. They had labeled him Alpha so soon, having held ceremony for his upcoming birthday that year. Enid still remembers watching him be knighted like a guard.

She still hasn’t spoken to him or Charlie since she finally turned. Leo’s contact in particular weighs heavy in her phone.

He texted and asked her if she was ok after…everything. She couldn’t think of what to say.

“People fear what they cannot control.” Her father says after a while, pulling her forth again. From thoughts of what she can’t control.

What sits stale on her tongue, along with the metallic blood from dinner that would linger throughout the night.

“So the hybrid thing…is that…also normal?” She asks next, hoping for a clearer answer. Her dad looks less sure this time when he answers her.

Like he’s withholding something.

“Your wolf can sense when you’re in distress.” Her dad explains, then he holds his tongue to look Enid over. “What happened with you and the Addams girl upstairs, anyway?”

What didn’t happen upstairs was a better question. It was like everything blew up at once.

(I tried to take the reigns, because you were hesitating.)

She just wanted all the information first! Plus, Wednesday hates people in her business. Enid already bites her tongue raw when she’s mentioned keeping eyes on the Hyde.

The stalker situation on top of it just made the hair on her neck stand up. Made her want to go run her feet calloused and red so long as she could focus on something else.

(You’re still holding back. She will be hurt if you do.)

If Wednesday says its fine then…well, its going to have to be fine for sake of both their peace.

Even if her father looks at her with growing concern the longer she’s quiet.

“Just more stuff about what happened with—you know…” Enid trails, feeling a bit of relief when her dad nods along. He looks to believe her, but still she looks nervously to her feet. “I get on edge, I guess.”

Her dad gets a softer look, standing from the table and circling to kneel to her eye level. He cups her chin, meeting her shiny eyes.

“I see,” He coos to her. “A threat to your mate tends to—“

And it kills the moment so suddenly.

It jars her spine straight and sends her wolf in a frenzy. Harsh panting and excited tail wagging.

(Yes! Our sire has accepted our mate. She will soon be a part of our pack!)

“Ok, why does everyone keep saying that!” Enid pushes her dad’s hand away, then stands from her seat in fit. “First my wolf and then mom implying all these-these things! And now…”

She’s laughing, more so hysterical at this point. She stands and send the chair nearly toppling over. Her brain goes to static as it all catches up to her.

The fact that her mom’s been laying off on the match making. The questions about Wednesday and her family. The fact that she can’t invite Yoko (her friend for literal years) over, but Wednesday got an open invitation.

(Our mate. Our heart. Our life.)

She’s gonna pass out again at this rate…

Enid begins to pace the room, even as her father tries to calm her.

“Enid—“

“Plus, I’m literally dating Ajax! We’ve come a long way and-and he’s been trying, so I can’t just…” Enid finds herself in front of the wall—that stupid wall. Directly in front of the head of a buck, its antlers asymmetrical and taunting her.

The past month of her life taunting her.

(That gorgon boy could never provide for us like this. You know it.)

She lets out a pitiful howl, not loud enough to alert the house but full of her inner despair.

Her hands buried in her hair, wishing she could tear the wolf out from her skull. Wishes she could force the beast to just give him a chance! Because…he hasn’t done anything wrong. Enid’s the one who’s been pulling away.

He’s a nice guy! She still cares about him a lot.

He’s been trying so freaking hard too, so Enid should…she should—

“Sweetheart.” Her father’s hand on her shoulder is the last thing she needs. When she’s reeling, it just makes her growl like he tried to take her dinner away. He winces, even as her eyes widen in apology.

She sinks herself to the ground, curling up her legs to her chest and holding in her sniffles.

Some Alpha she is, huh.

How did Selene grace her birth with any right, but to suffer? To continue to disappoint?

And Wednesday…

She’d only just gotten the Addams to agree to allow her to use the label ‘bestie’ when mentioned on her blog. And of course she had to sneak a picture for her instagram. Had taken it before they left, with her fluffy pink coat bundled up next to Wednesday in all black.

Their shoulders touching and those cupid bow lips turned down into a scowl. She found herself staring at it for a lot of the ride home actually. Remembering earning the favor of her…

Having Wednesday like her company.

(After she’d tried so freaking hard to get Wednesday to like her.)

She groans angrily into her legs, burying her face into her knees.

Vaguely she hears the creak of her dad’s shoes as he crouches down beside her. He has an easier time placing a hand on her back, shushing her tears.

“No one has an easy time coming into their wolf, pup…contrary to how we may have made you feel coming up.” Her father murmurs, then nudges her shoulder. “And, uh…I never did finish telling you my side of the story, did I?”

Enid sniffs, watery eyes looking in confusion at her sire. He only grins just a bit, before shaking his head and leaning back against the couch. He settles beside his daughter and looks to the ceiling.

“Back when we met…I thought your mother hated me—well, she told me that much at least.” He chuckles fondly, “‘Theres no possible way! Selene must be mistaken if she thinks my mate is some cowardly wolf like him!’ Oh, she was absolutely livid, even though she technically made the first move…Aha! And here I was only hoping for a nice tip, since they came in such a fancy car.”

He does a scarily accurate impression that has her looking on in uneasiness. She thinks about her grandfather, his fur long turned silvery at the ends with age. Enid knew he liked cars and motorcycles—working with his hands too.

She remembers getting sent to her grandparents a lot when she coming up. When she wasn’t shifting. Even then, her mom’s tongue had never held itself when it came to her.

“So, she’s always been a bitch…sorry.” Enid’s apology is quick, brows furrowing at what slips out. Because its still really weird, their current relationship alongside the…old?

Was a month or two ago really that much time?

She’s only known Wednesday for not much longer, technically.

Her dad doesn’t look bothered. Almost as if she’d never said it. Something swept under the rug that benefited her for once.

“She’s always known what she wants.” Her dad corrected, meeting her eyes. “You notice we don’t visit grandma and grandad much…aside from her passing, of course.”

Her grandmother’s funeral. Grandma Ethel, who never once hugged or gave Enid the time of day.

Even though her mother tried naming her after the woman. Or something close to it, keeping up with the E names…it just felt like another way to try but still not fit in.

On their many acres of land, sharing space with nothing but vineyards. They had been on the St. John grounds, of her mother’s maiden name. Her mother had been very quiet that whole trip, come to think of it. She definitely noticed then too, when she had scuffed her shoes and the elder wolf had only sighed.

Normally she’d get an earful over how she presented herself. She hadn’t even heard a word about her dyed hair.

“Your grandmother had high expectations—far above Earth and the moon itself for your mother. Now…Imagine her shock when she realized her daughter had mated with me: the one who repaired her family’s porsche. Having to work to go to school. She was ashamed to bring me home, so…she denied the bond.”

That makes Enid’s eyes widen comically, looking at her dad with an odd smile. Her mom?

Esther Sinclair—going against custom and the moon’s authority? It’s like reading and believing a chain post online.

“But…I thought she always said it was tradition and-and that my wolf ‘knows.’” Enid uses the air quotes, sitting up farther on her knees in rapt attention.

Her dad just laughs, scratching back of his head.

“We don’t all choose to marry for love, as I’m sure you’ve seen with other packs and their treaties.” He says warily, bringing an unpleasant memory of her mom ironically suggesting that for her and her oldest brother on more than one occasion.

Leo was still single and her mom hated it. Her brother cared more about sports, considering her got into school on a soccer scholarship.

It had been placed onto her now—she was slowly and very (very, very) reluctantly starting to realize exactly what that meant.

Why she’s being ‘subtly’ pushed towards her best friend.

Even as her dad continues to tell his story of how they met.

“And it wasn’t ever easy, making your mother fall in love with me. I wasn’t too keen on her in the beginning either…I thought she was a bit of a brat—don’t tell her I said that.” Her dad winks at her, to which Enid snorts.

Still, if her suspicions are correct…

“Why did you stick around?” Enid presses, “If she didn’t even like you…does it matter what the moon thinks?”

What the wolf thinks?

Was…was it worth rocking the boat?

Treading through unfamiliar wood with her eager paws through the unmarked graveyard that was knowing Wednesday Addams? Would the seer even want that?

(She will not deny the bond. It is written in our blood.)

Morbid enough that Wednesday could stomach and romantic enough that Enid could melt. The devotion her wolf had for the other girl was unrelenting, albeit unnerving. Over the top and obsessive—it was hard to decide what was and wasn’t her own.

If her and the wolf are of one heart and soul. Were these feelings hers as well? 

Except… Wednesday’s her best friend. She didn’t want to possibly lose her. To put herself out there and possibly…fail.

What if she’s not the Alpha everyone wanted her to be? Not as good as the seer tries to reassure she is?

But her dad clamps a firm hand on her shoulder, like he can read her thoughts. Likely, he sees her wringing hands and nerves.

“It doesn’t think, pup, it knows.” He emphasized with his eye contact, “I think it knew we needed each other. I needed a change of pace…I really was a coward. Lazy and unmotivated too. And your mother was the complete opposite. Its an anomaly, really…”

Enid almost wants to laugh in his face.

She holds in a gasp at that particular word, but her body goes frozen. Lips go taught and her eyes flee down to her now tattered jeans.

An anomaly…

“But…it works?” Enid asks, because it shouldn’t.

It shouldn’t work, but—

“Well, I moved out to San Fran and had a handful of pups to keep track of now. One of ‘em even turned out to be a chosen one…” That hand on her shoulder becomes a strong one around her body, holding her close. She feels the warmth of his affection and homey smell of her sire, “I think we’re doing pretty ok.”

/

Enid fast walks from the den and back through the kitchen. It’s with the guise of craving a cup of water. Frantically, she sniffs for blood knowing that despite her promises, her friend tended to find trouble regardless. Her wolf is more than happy to lend its strength in lieu of seeing the girl.

She makes it to the table in record time, but only soft floral and sweet honey lingered. She notes a kettle on the stove and a few cups in the sink, sniffing for any possible foul play.

“Must’ve gone to bed then…” She murmurs to herself, more so her wolf that urged her to tackle Wednesday on sight.

Its like every moment since ‘recognizing’ the seer as a possible mate had been to further process her wolf’s actions. Why she made a fool of herself in the airport, hugging Wednesday like she was leaving. The need to hover over the girl and make sure she’s eating.

Even though Enid herself felt absolutely wrecked on the inside. Had a hand in her hair, eyes closed in her assault of thoughts.

How was she supposed to tell her?

As if on cue, she feels her phone going off in her back pocket. She’d almost forgotten it entirely for the first time in her life. She luckily sees a text from Yoko.

And several worried ones from Ajax.

She winces as she glances over the ‘what time is weds getting there again?’ That turned into ‘we still on for tonight?’ And then more asking if she’s ok.

(If he truly cared he would know.)

Enid just rolls her eyes and resigns herself to having to text him later. She promises to text him before she falls asleep. The last thing she wants to do is argue with her wolf about the gorgon. Hear more criticism from her other half, while the object of its desire was upstairs. It felt wrong.

He didn’t deserve it.

Enid is the one that feels like an asshole.

She looks at her texts from Yoko next, seeing the vampire going on about coven reunions and the difference in how blood tasted over seas. She almost feels bad with the way she’s about to dump everything on her oldest friend, but figured she’s at least doing so after dark.

She doesn’t reply, just clicks the FaceTime button and runs to the downstairs bathroom.

“Whoa, long time no text—did you get a new phone or something?” Yoko’s half laugh, half passive aggressive reply comes through the speaker before the door shuts.

She unfortunately doesn’t have air pods, but the bathroom is the best she can do. She needs this if she’s going to face Wednesday.

“I wish that that was problem.” Enid mumbles, sitting herself on the toilet lid in shame.

Yoko has her glasses off and pushed up on her head, looking to be outside and walking alone. She squints at her.

“Esther still pulling her freaky friday ‘I’m proud of my daughter now’ act?”

“Worse—she’s trying to care about my interests and meet my friends.”

Yoko gives a faux gag of disgust.

“Well, I must’ve missed my invitation, then. What, is she still mad about my great great whatever grandma and her silver ring?” Yoko looks around in the background of wherever she was, a few cars entering out of frame.

Enid bites her lip, choosing her words carefully. Even in public this late at night, she knew the wrong word would send the vampire on a tangent. She lived to tease her.

Enid slumps in her seat.

“No, but she talked me into inviting Wednesday over for the holidays.”

She’s not sure what reaction to expect. Maybe petty jealousy, the vampire pretending she cares that Wednesday’s there and she isn’t. As if Yoko doesn’t hate her mom and offer to drain her daily. Heck, even a nosey interrogation would make perfect sense.

She’s totally not expecting this complete lack of anything. The vampire barely bats an eye.

“Tricked you into it?” Yoko furrows her brows, looking at her weird. At Enid’s reflected confusion, the vampire laughs in her face. “Did you think you were talking quietly when you were begging her to come over before we left, or…? Anyone with working eyes saw how attached at the hip you two were.”

Each sentence was like a gun shot she narrowly avoided.

”Plus the oddly homoerotic post—on main btw—about ‘finally’ getting Addams to open her coffin like heart up for you…” Yoko rambles on, not even looking at the way Enid’s eyes bug out.

It makes her cheeks go pink in embarrassment—not that Wednesday could hear her, but still…

“I just felt extra, um protective after everything and wolves are—we’re territorial and…” Enid weakly argued, as if that wasn’t the point of the call. She mainly feels off put at how apparently overt this issue was. She buries herself deeper, “My instagram post was meant to be life affirming, not…that. Not on purpose? D-Did I mention we literally almost died?”

Yoko doesn’t buy it, but thats a given. The vampire can’t hear her lying heart beat from this far away, but its clear. With her defensiveness alone. She wouldn’t be calling right now, if not.

No…she’d be distracted with Wednesday. Wouldn’t she?

Ugh.

“Weird considering you wouldn’t let me sit next to you on the train, since you hate the smell of human blood.” Yoko states blankly, not calling her out directly. She seemingly finds a place outside to sit, the view of tree now backing her. The vampire snorts, “But enough about me—lets roll back around to your mom setting you up.”

Enid squeaks, eyes flashing and nearly breaking the toilet seat with how fast she moves.

“I never said she was setting us up!” The blonde wolf blanches, voice raising far more than she meant. But Yoko doesn’t blink, simply giving her a look as if to say ‘really bitch?’ And so…Enid gives a sigh of defeat. “But, uh…low key I agree. I think. Things have been weird.”

She ends, brushing hair behind her ear. In not so many words trying to describe the past 24 hours.

Yoko claps her hand to her chest, mouthing ‘finally!’ to the sky above. Enid rubs her arm sheepishly.

“It makes too much fucking sense, actually.” Yoko says next, then looks off in thought. “All your mom ever goes on about is tradition and strengthening the pack—all that jazz. If not for Wednesday’s inability to mind her business, who knows when you would’ve entered her good graces…not that it should matter. Bitch.”

Enid chuckles at the insult thrown at her mother, not bothering to chide her friend for once. Many sleepovers were spent roasting the elder wolf when she would leave mean texts or voicemails every moon.

But this was the opposite. Now she’s not sure what to do with positive reinforcement.

With Wednesday.

“Wednesday doesn’t like it if I try to say thats she’s part of the reason I shifted.” Enid corrects, looking down at her bare feet. She thinks about their many conversations and how the seer was never willing to take credit. “She always says it was in me the whole time, but…I dunno.”

(Her light was dim, but all we needed. We answered her call.)

Her wolf offers up, but Enid doesn’t understand that either. Doesn’t know if her friend would appreciate being told she has any kind of brightness.

Wednesday hated color. Enid needed the light to live.

“Damn, I wonder if Ajax would be sad enough to try men.” Yoko starts, almost like a stream of consciousness. As if Enid’s not the one she’s talking to, she laughs, “I always felt like him and Xavier’s bromance could be a little something-something, if you know what I mean?”

Enid doesn’t looks too humored by their possible love story, though. She’s still trying to make sense of her own.

“God, I haven’t even talked to him about it yet…I don’t even know what to say, I just feel bad.” For lack of any other word. Enid feels incredibly guilty with the amount of effort on one end. “He texts me everyday and he’s actually really attentive. I believe him when he said he stood me up on accident, too.”

He had an excuse. He was literally frozen, encased in stone. What was her excuse?

What right does she have?

She had a working phone and both hands. Had been wrongfully ignoring him ever since Wednesday got there. And if she’s being truly honest with herself…

“Who you trying to convince, pup?” Yoko asks, cocking her head and smiling albeit sagely. Her many years over Enid shone in her expression alone, “Just saying—you don’t always have to do stuff just cause you feel obligated. Its ok to do things you want sometimes.”

What a concept…huh?

Enid wipes at her eye, phone lolling in her lap but still in view of her friend. Her heart beat steady but pitiful. The guilt burned so bad it stung her eyes.

She’s lived a lot of her life trying to please. And now she has, but…what now? Is she happy? Obviously not…

Maybe it just hasn’t kicked in yet?

Maybe it never would.

(If you continue to deny your nature it won’t.)

She doesn’t like agreeing with her wolf—likely part of her problem. For once, she believes the beast to be correct in one thing.

She needed to talk to Wednesday…or Ajax…both?

“Yoko,” Enid whines, “What should I do?”

“I know I’m oh so ancient and wise, but even I haven’t figured the Addams clan out. And trust our resident raven isn’t the first I’ve met,” Yoko sounds less than enthusiastic about whoever those Addams may have been. Which…was on brand. “As for Ajax? I’d tell him while he’s stoned to take the edge off.”

At Enid’s incredulous look, the vampire rolls her eyes. 

“I meant stoned as in ‘high’ not literally!”

“Thanks Yoks, but I think I should go.” Enid reluctantly begins her goodbye, “I can’t hide in here all night.”

“Good luck, pup! And for the record…I think you’ll be fine. You’re the only one Addams glares at in a nice way.” Her friend winks at her.

Enid has to will her face from heating up before she can leave the bathroom. Maybe she’ll grab that cup of ice cold water after all.

Chapter Text

The walk to her room felt like a thousand yards away. Like running a football field, rather than a few corridors and a staircase. The old walls she grew up inside, become eyes silently judging her.

Not that that’s a foreign feeling in this house.

She’s likely delaying the inevitable, though. Wednesday never let sleeping dogs lie. She can hear the girl wide awake up stairs. The tapping of her foot, likely in tandem with not having a proper outlet. Even Thing has its

Plus the added, unspoken factor that Enid practically always has her ears tuned in on the seer’s heartbeat. More so after everything with Crackstone, but the girl slept and walked so light she’d learned to keep her peripherals open.

Only she’s not sneaking back into their room after messing around with Yoko, or club activities.

Well, not the way she normally hangs out with Yoko at least. Gossip was involved, but the topic had been mainly herself.

She heard the steady beat of a Wednesday up and alert. Not the soft thump of one with her arms crossed to rest. Theres a difference that Enid had picked up on very quickly. Lots of little things about Wednesday retained fairly well in her head.

(Her scent, the last thing we said to bring a smile to her face, her eyes like an eclipse—)

Ok, ok she gets the picture!

She’s always eager to please, but getting Wednesday to like her had been an entire operation at one point. More work than she’s put into anyone not related to her.

Technically, if she’s really being precise—more than even Ajax…

And Wednesday definitely didn’t ask.

But Enid just had to.

Cause they’re roommates and its best to not hate each other…right? She’s always told herself she just didn’t want to hate her room at school too. Just needed things to be cordial.

(We needed her. Our mate, the embodiment of darkness that surrounds our moon above.)

Enid feels her hand tighten around the stair’s railing. The cup of water in her hand sloshing as she gives pause.

Nevermore was likely still in pieces being maneuvered back into place by some of the more powerful psychics on campus. Being rebuilt as she faced her personal demons. Still, she can’t help but feel like somehow things were easier at school.

Easier when they’re just roommates.

(But we would crave her. Always crave for more…when have we ever been able to resist her?)

Enid holds in a pitiful sounding whimper. That stint in Yoko’s room after being (rightfully) annoyed about Tyler had been…short lived. She was worried sick about the dangerous game Wednesday was a willing participant in. Not to mention Thing almost dying.

She thought about Wednesday every night. Couldn’t help but offer Eugene time of day to ask how she was, or subtly linger by their door to make sure she was sleeping. 

Ugh. Maybe her wolf had a point.

She drags her feet to her own bed room, expecting to have a few moments to sigh and ring out her hands. Maybe even give herself a pep talk. Or, just down her cup of water and cowardly run back downstairs to fill it once more.

Except her door opens before she’s made it fully down the hall. Wednesday pokes her head out, eyeing her like a suspect.

“Enid. You’ve been gone for well over an hour.” Wednesday squints her eyes, giving her a quick once over. She grabs her by the same cardigan she was given into her room. “We have much to discuss.”

Enid squeaks her surprise at not only being tugged, but touched by her friend unprompted.

Once inside, the brunette crosses her arms. Enid notes the way she’s changed into an oversized t shirt with some metal font written on the front. She looked so cozy and Moon above forgive her, but the shorter girl looked so cute! In clear spite of the way she was semi-menacingly awaiting a reply.

It almost distracts her from the pile of weapons on her bedroom floor.

Almost being the key word, because like…hello?

“Sorry, uh *ahem* I didn’t realize...” Enid murmurs, placing her cup on her dresser and then looking carefully at her friend. A glance back at a bow and sack of arrows on the ground, Thing tinkering with the string. Her eyes grow weary, “Do you…Do you wanna explain why you turned my bedroom floor into an artillery?”

Wednesday’s eyes soften (not a lot by any means) in understanding, hands going behind her back as she nods to Thing. Like a military commander, her posture straightens just a bit.

“That is exactly what requires discussion,” The smaller girl starts without wasting time, or seeming to care about Enid’s body locking up preemptively. “Your mother spent a grating amount of time informing me on your family and their history. Surprisingly and before I was tempted to go back on my word of no blood—she gave me a very enlightening elucidation on your hunting customs.”

Enid lets go a breath with that.

Of course Wednesday’s one track murderous mind would ignore her mother’s overt courting tactics only to catch the bit about killing and maiming. She doesn’t act as if she noticed anything of the sort off, even if Enid has admittedly been acting strangely herself.

Enid nods dumbly, if not only to give a semblance of her normal self. A proper amount of suspicion, as if she doesn’t know her mom planned to have them pretty much engaged by Christmas.

Because her brother’s recent engagement wasn’t enough apparently…

(We must make her a proper ring. Dig deep into the caves for gold.)

Or she could graduate first, maybe?

Enid shakes her head, as if she could physically jostle the wolf into being realistic.

All the while Wednesday stands militant in front of her weaponry, pointing and sharply ordering Thing if he moved wrong. And if Enid somehow finds it stupidly attractive to see the seer in her element she blames her latent killing instinct or whatever.

(Our thoughts are intertwined. We are one under Selene’s light.)

Enid chooses to address Wednesday instead of that possibly (possibly) true thing. She clears her throat, skipping briefly to stand over Thing and his work.

“So, you plan on being the one to lead the hunt, or…?” Enid trails with a growing smile and how serious Wednesday still looked. “You could probably clear the forest out by yourself with all of this.”

Wednesday blows air from her nose in a way that Enid likes to believe is amusement. She does it often when Enid tries to joke around with her.

At least she stopped actively pretending to hate it.

“I was already prepared, as I often am, but I figured it best to ensure my weapons are properly aligned.” The seer explains as calm as ever, picking up a stark black arrow with a tip that rivaled her wolf’s nails. She pricks the tip with a look of what’s apparently satisfaction, pursing her lips. “Your mother should know better than to question an Addams killing aptitude, however.”

Enid’s wolf is wagging its tail, now excited all over again at the prospect of hunting with the object of it’s affection. Chuffing in impatience, she feels like she could shift from her skin in that moment.

(Lets go out tonight! We can hunt breakfast! Our first kill as true mates! A moonlight stroll where we can gift her a bouquet.)

While a run does sound really good at the moment…

Enid herself is still a bit on edge at mention of the matron Sinclair. While she liked to believe it stayed at hunting, maybe even one of her long winded rants about their pack lineage. Had she not been in the den, she likely would’ve had to save her friend from her mom going through the story of every single head on the mantle.

And while Wednesday would actually probably adore that—she highly doubts her mother would be one to stall. Esther was blunt at her best and brash at her worst. Its why Enid had such an eery feeling up her spine, like preparing for a scolding or further exile. Her title of Alpha stripped away before she can even make sense of it.

After so many years of disappointment, it felt more in reach than all else.

If her mother would let something more slip, lacking shame and desperate to mate her off. Another quick route of family shame the second Enid ruins everything again.

Not to mention…what if Wednesday doesn’t even accept the bond?

She can’t even think about the hunt right now.

(She IS our mate. Selene does not work based on chance—it is innate.)

Enid could roll her eyes if not for how crazy she would look.

“Thats…all you guys talked about, right?” Enid questions instead, watching Wednesday tuck her arrow back into its equally black carrier. She tries her best not to sound too desperate to know, “With my mom and stuff—like she didn’t show you my old chew toy for real, did she?”

She’s mostly joking, but Wednesday’s blank look has her sweating a bit. Has her anticipating the possible end to their short lived relationship thus far. The Addams infamous poker face did her nerves no justice.

“Amongst other things, but otherwise she remains unscathed if thats what you’re worried about. I promised no blood and my word is not one to be taken for folly, Enid.” Wednesday sounds close to offended, eyes narrowing in her direction again.

The wolf holds her hands up in surrender. Her heart lulls to a far safer tempo in tow, knowing that she’s likely safe. Wednesday was never one to pull punches.

If she did know that her mother wanted them mated—and Selene help her painlessly if so—she sure didn’t seem bothered by it. Or maybe she’s not as good at reading those eyebrow cues like she thought she was.

(Of course she wouldn’t deny the bond, you fool.)

Enid fights urge to bonk herself upside the head for nth time that day, instead shaking her head and hair out.

“Sorry, sorry just…you know my mom.” She ends softly, “I just don’t want her to say something to bother you.”

Or ruin our friendship when I only just got you to like me—remains unsaid. Hopefully it would stay that way, until she fully sorted through her thoughts and feelings.

Cause she still technically doesn’t trust her mom, just…another reason got added to the list.

But then the younger girl takes a few bold steps in her direction, enough that it very well should trigger her personal space. Enid tenses if not only to stop herself from basking in it, or moving any closer and giving into these latent feelings.

“When have you ever known me to be easily swayed?” Wednesday asks, looking at her so intently—so freaking close it has her throat drying up. And she may simply be going crazy from lack of sleep, but she thinks those eyes glance down for a moment. Then back up, “Now, I suggest we retire soon, as we’re going to be needed by sunrise. And I recall you snoring and growling through your alarm in the past.”

Enid can’t analyze it too long, the last few sentences making her ears ring. She can’t even bring herself to be offended at the comments on her snoring. The proximity of their faces alone had her brain doing a soft reset.

It sure was…different now that she didn’t have to try too hard for Wednesday to be close to her. Didn’t even have to ask, really.

…Have they really been attached at the hip lately?

Could it be she was so blind to her own feelings due to respecting the Addams’ initial hate of physical contact?

Now that she’s being so deliberate, so sure of their proximity Enid had been realized how starved she’d been for it. Sure, she respected Wednesday and her boundaries, but she still always had that gentle tingly feeling at her finger tips.

Whenever Wednesday did something that just made her want to grab her hand, or pull her into the biggest hug imaginable.

She’d always thought it was because no one touched Wednesday. So, now that its common place, theoretically it should stop feeling like her world’s axis tilting just to share the same breaths.

(We need her more than we need oxygen. We would suck our every breath from her mouth if she would only allow.)

Ok, that was stupid romantic…but, also totally not at all ethical. Or, humanly possible without dying before she gets the chance to figure this out.

She stands awkwardly for a second after Wednesday’s gone to her bedside. Enid’s just been gaping at her fuzzy pink checkered rug and rethinking her whole life.

No big deal.

Especially with the tiny seer none the wiser, peeling her blanket back and adjusting Enid’s comically fluffy pillows with a look of trepidation.

She remembers to reply after almost too long standing there with her tail between her legs. After her brain loads and processes the fact that she was told to go to bed.

“Wait—why before sunrise? Why so early?” She asks in genuine curiosity. She tries to recall anything special Wednesday did on weekends other than cello practice. But she often preferred moon lighting, vs a dawning sun.

Wednesday looks back at her in equal curiosity. As if Enid had asked her something silly, like the color of the sky. She sits primly on the side of the bed, picking imaginary lint from her leg before she replies.

“Your father didn’t mention?” She questioned with a raised brow, to which Enid shakes her head. Wednesday hums, “Your mother told me to prepare for a full house of wolves, but I let it be known you’d already informed me. Apparently we’re meant to pick up your sibling from the airport in the morning. The one named Charles, I believe.”

All the while, she’s absently running a hand along Enid’s quilt. Its a dark blue color that belonged to one of her brothers, but she figured it would suit the seer’s color aversion. It used to be Charlie’s actually. A lot of Cali sports teams used blue and the boy’s room was decorated that way.

As if they’re naturally inclined to predatory animals, the Sharks logo patterned the blanket. She has memories of catching games way back when. Then they grew up and apart…

Charlie didn’t stay here anymore, though. Not in California.

Hadn’t been since he met his other half; his mate was from the other coast. A wolf from Florida, having come from the swamps to see things on the other side. She was a nice girl from a pack that rivaled her own in size.

Her mom was over the moon making ties with a pack out of state. And of course that her son had ‘finally’ met such a nice girl to settle down with. As if going to college engaged isn’t outdated as hell.

Enid was selfishly happy for the distance. Less prodding from her family and less offense if she doesn’t call. Part of why the quaint and cold town of Jericho fit so well. She wonders very briefly if Charlie could agree, but their mom had never really been hard on him.

She feels her wolf whimpering, the beast inside looking woeful at thought of it’s brother. Its pack mate being miles away in multiple ways. Metaphorically and not.

(Want everyone together for the hunt. Need our pack to live.)

And Enid agrees to an extent. Its why she’d get so worked up about being a lone wolf someday. Why it simultaneously feels so freaking weird to suddenly not be. Even the twins treating her with just the slightest bit of respect.

She still felt weary of her two elder ones. Charlie a whole different can of worms than Leo.

He’s busy with his move and integrating into a new pack. He likely didn’t have time to even realize she was avoiding him. Unlike Leo who showed more subtle signs of offense. Unanswered texts that glare at her because she can’t even bother clearing the notification away.

Somehow that didn’t make it any easier.

She feels something collide with her arm, catching the fabric with a funny look. She unfolds a t shirt, looking up to see Wednesday looking back at her.

“You should change for bed, unless you plan on sleeping in tattered rags.” She referred to her torn up shirt and the way her jeans hung loose on her hips. Holes in the knees and seams bursting.

(But now we have a piece of her with us. Around us.)

She grips the cardigan around her a little tighter.

“You totally don’t have to come if you don’t want to…tomorrow at the airport, I mean.” Enid mumbles, not able to think of much else. Part of her doesn’t know if she wants the girl to see her interactions. Doesn’t want Wednesday to be mean.

Doesn’t know if she wants her friend to be. Even if she had every right.

“Nonsense, I don’t want to give off the impression of fear.” Wednesday scoffs at the very idea. Then, “And I don’t imagine you want to be alone, either?”

That last bit said much softer. As soft as Wednesday allowed, but she thinks it’s something special. She doesn’t hear it everyday and the seer certainly never used that kind of tone with others. Like Yoko had been implying it would appear to be reserved just for her.

When Wednesday shows her that she cares.

Enid exhales, wordlessly shrugging off the cardigan and whats left of her shirt, pulling the new one on.

“Yeah…” She murmurs, eyeing the ground in lieu of the seer seeing her eyes watering.

Ugh, something she’d never been able to keep in are her crocodile tears. Like moon controls the currents of her tear ducts too.

She goes to grab a pair of sleep shorts from her dresser, but she still feels that stare on her back. It just makes her eyes well up even more in her shame.

“Enid.” Wednesday calls, but Enid still keeps her head down. “Ugh, not a word you.”

She turns at that sharp whisper, seeing the seer had scooted herself towards the wall where Enid had a large body pillow. The quilt moved over to make space, the seer rolls her eyes. She even thinks she can make out a shade of pink in those normally pale cheeks.

Thing looks suspiciously innocent, packing away the bulk of Wednesday’s weapons.

“As a token of gratitude for my stay and in an extension of…care,” Wednesday looks like the word tastes strange, eyes rolling back into her head. She murmurs something gruffly and in Spanish, sitting up a little bit straighter. Then she looks not at Enid directly, curiously, but more in direction of the wall behind her. “I will allow you to embrace me into that ‘cuddling’ *ahem* ritual, business or what have you…the affection you aforementioned participating in with Tanaka,”

Its said like she’s she’s being forced to speak with a gun to her head. Stilted and stern, eyes boring into her wide ones. The only tell being the demure way the seer avoids her eyes and the tint to her otherwise tensed jaw.

Oh my gosh!

Not to beat a dead horse—Wednesday hates people in her space.

The only time she’d ever been in the seer’s bed had been after everything. After a well needed shower where they took turns sitting on the toilet lid to make sure the other was safe. Not anything suggestive, quite literally out of adrenaline and fear.

That first night back in their dorm before they even started packing. They crawled into bed, after wordless eye contact to decide on who’s they were using.

It wasn’t anything necessarily romantic either, at least not at the time—more like ‘I almost just watched you die, so now I have to keep checking to make sure you’re alive.’

(Why do you hesitate, foolish girl? Get into the nest we made!)

Enid’s own face was already beginning to redden, along with the huge smile that threatened to burst from her lips.

Because Wednesday still cares.

“Really?” She can’t help but aw, hands clasping together and grinning with fangs. The seer grumbles, but it only makes her smile wider, “Wens, thats so sweet of—“

“I advise you do so quickly, as my generosity’s window has a lock and key.” Another clipped response, but Enid would take it. She spent far too long learning those Addams ques to put them to waste.

Like how the seer preferred to be the big spoon. The couple (if Enid places a real number against it, she fears it’ll make her look even more naive) of times they slept together she was at least. She liked to be against the wall, needing the hard surface against her back to push off of in case of intruders.

Even in a house full of wolves, where she’s the leader—Wednesday had their safety in mind.

(Our safety. Blood for blood as true mates.)

Enid manages to hold her self deprecating scoff at that.

She would probably call it having ‘survival instincts’ or something much more macabre. Enid thought it was impossibly endearing. Dreadfully so, as she’s sure the seer would maybe appreciate it more.

While they tuck into bed, she notes in her peripheral that Thing had pushed the weaponry mostly back into Wednesday’s luggage. The soft pattering of his fingers as he climbs into bed with them, settling at the end and under her throw like a pet. She’d never tell him that of course, she doesn’t wanna hurt his feelings.

“So cute!” She coos with her hands clasped. Sorry, but she can’t not mention it. She could just eat him up if not for the fact that her wolf jaw might be a tad too heavy for him.

Luckily, Thing seems more flattered than anything, gesturing to Enid with a shy flutter of fingers as if to say ‘aw shucks.’

“He’s thousands of years old. He’s grown—over grown in fact.” Wednesday corrects, arms crossed as she leans on her back.

Thing gives her an eloquent middle finger, to which the younger Addams rolls her eyes and sighs as if exhausted.

‘Its rude to reveal one’s age without permission you know.’ The hand signs, making Enid giggle at how pissy Wednesday looked. Especially when she goes to pet the back of the hand and play with his fingers.

“Still a cutie patootie,” She coos at Thing who preens under the attention the wolf gives. She only looks up at Wednesday’s groan of overt disgust, making Enid giggle. “Don’t be jelly, Wens!”

She teases, because theres a part of her that loves riling Wednesday up. Garnering that bit of emotion that she knows existed deep down under layers of apathy.

Especially now that she knows where it comes from.

And definitely now that the banter sends her heart aflutter. After she’d stopped taking Wednesday so personally and throwing some of the snark back her direction like a game. Like adrenaline when she’s playing ball with her brothers, but all she really needed was that glare and scoff in her direction.

“Jealousy implies a level of care that would require an untimely, but welcome death for me to ever admit.” Wednesday grumbled, then makes quick work of sealing arms across her chest. “Whatever. Don’t growl at me when you’re tired in the morning, Sinclair.”

Enid gives a faux pout, nudging the psychic with her foot. The brunette just shuts her eyes and keeps silent.

“We’re back on a last name basis? Do I gotta slay a demon or something this time to fix it?” Enid jokes, making light of the phantom pain on side of her face when she thinks too hard about the last battle she was in.

Wednesday groans, poking an eye open. Enid feels her heart hammer just a bit harder, tentatively laying back in her bed. Her head hits her pillow soft, then lolls over to meet both eyes looking back at her.

She can hear the heart across from hers too. But if she focuses too hard she’ll never sleep.

“Several, actually.” The brunette responds after a while simply sharing eyes. “Would you believe I have a list of damnable beings I’d like to have word?”

Would you believe I’ve been calling this urge to kiss and know you, something platonic? That I’m so ridiculously drawn to you, I had convinced myself I was ok just being civil?

Enid didn’t think that would be appropriate however.

(Don’t like that she still talks to that boy…the hyde. Don’t want her talking to anyone else that can harm her.)

Somehow that felt even worse to bring up. Even if it burned her to her core, remembering how she looked between those claws.

Wednesday had quite the shit list of damnable beings, actually. So many it nearly sends her out of her own skin again.

Enid tucks in closer to the brunette, to cope with the way her own thoughts have begun to mirror the wolf’s. The beast in her head lulling into a calm silence for the first time since having the seer back at arms reach.

At ease, surrounded in the scent of Wednesday; so saturated that if she closed her eyes she could be anywhere. As long as she has the seer at her side.

She could wait a little longer to unpack it all…at least until morning. Wednesday was ironically warm to cuddle into. And her wolf can’t complain or counter that.

“I wouldn’t believe anything else,” Enid sighed in momentary contentment.

Wednesday hums, allowing one of her stiffly crossed arms to give way and wrap lazily around her.

/

Enid liked driving. Had gotten her license pretty early, considering she felt behind on so many other milestones.

The least she could do is get her permit and license. Something a girl her age should have to feel normal. A semblance of independence, in her once wolf-less form.

Maybe it was the animal instincts that enjoyed traveling. She usually had fun on family vacations, if not only because her mom cared most about her smile when in public. Representing the pack in a certain way.

More recently and organically, she took to doing so with friends. Less performative, far more sentimental. She had taken a trip with Yoko the semester before Wednesday moved in. The vampire had rented a nice car to toot around in while they had time after mid terms.

Something about the open road…it felt good to a wolf, shifted or not.

Except now her nerves are all out of wack. Feels more like she’s performing again, only she’s not been given a script for this. Only knew how to play the burden—the black sheep. Or the trying too hard to be happy and over compensating.

She hadn’t been behind the wheel since she turned.

Not even once, preferring her paws as if she thinks she’ll lose the ability before even getting used to it. Back to being a failure, a looming possibility considering how she grew up. She’s content to be a back seat driver with Twitter in one hand and boba in the other while the twins took turns taking them to run errands.

Her dad had driven her to pick up Wednesday too, without having to ask.

“Are you nervous Enid?” Her mother had giggled at her trepidation that morning. It made her skin crawl as she realized it was likely on purpose. Her mother jostling her father awake and yapping away with her theories.

Why her dad had wanted to ‘talk.’

Moon above, were there ever not ulterior motives with her family?

“Enid.”

The blonde jerks a bit, head quickly whipping to look to the passenger seat. She sees Wednesday, all buckled up and ready to go. Her hands in her lap, black baggy jeans and striped sweater under her over sized leather trench. A black beanie that pushes her bangs down over her brows.

Dark eyes watch her unblinking, making Enid clear her throat and grip the wheel all the more.

“Uh…yeah?” She replies after not too much lull, but still feeling mentally far off. Like she let her brain back in bed.

She slept so peacefully last night. Like so well she didn’t even shift! In fact her wolf has been eerily quiet all morning. Curled up in her minds eye and happy to observe. Brief complaining at Wednesday’s choice to only grab a slice of toast before leaving.

God forbid not everyone has a whole freakin’ chicken for breakfast…

Regardless, though, Enid doesn’t know if the lack of commentary was good or bad. She was kinda getting used to it.

“We are not moving,” Wedneaday states very matter of factly, pulling her from her head space. A head cocks curiously, “You’ve been still for quite a while.”

Enid swallows, blinking a few times before facing forward. She’s met with the sight of her dad’s pick up truck that she was currently parked behind. She’d been given the keys to the more practical SUV they often piled into.

Enid can still smell Fletcher all over the front seat. She clears her throat, wishing to blame his stench for sending her mind elsewhere. As if she doesn’t have to focus on it to really smell it.

Its always easiest to smell Wednesday. Like breathing.

“Y-Yeah just um…” Enid’s brows knit, drumming finger tips on the wheel. Feeling the grooves in the leather, before giving Wednesday a smile that’s probably a bit too wide. “I’m—warming up is all!”

Awkward laughter follows, but Wednesday doesn’t look amused. Or much of anything humored, more so like she’s reading. Trying to figure something out on Enid’s face that the wolf prayed wouldn’t show.

“The key is not in the ignition…” The seer replies evenly, eyes flicking over to her white knuckling the wheel and then back to her manic blue eyes. A beat, “Are you fit to drive? Shall I take the wheel?”

Enid could almost call the tone concerned. Especially when at her lack of answer, the girl starts unbuckling her seatbelt.

“No! Nope—I’m totally ok!” Enid starts denying, hand flying over to click the belt back in. At the disbelief she received in form of another weary look, Enid only shrugs. Its sheepish and her hair covers her face as she leans towards the car door. “Would you believe I actually like driving?”

She adds on, sinking further in the seat. Car still idle and silence enveloping them. Other than vague noise from the street.

“Tanaka mentioned something along the lines of your driving skill being up to par with a ‘hellcat,’” Wednesday emphasized the word with a contemplative hum following. “However, I didn’t think that to be a street legal vehicle on the mortal plane.”

Enid doesn’t even try to conceal her obnoxiously loud snort at that. If nothing could cheer her up, Wednesday’s complete lack of knowledge on anything modern could give her a good chuckle.

The irony in such a bright girl not knowing what ‘lol’ meant until it was broken down like a math problem. Enid can’t help but laugh, because its just so uniquely Wednesday.

Its comforting. Unintentional, but…comforting.

“I really gotta show you Need for Speed—my brothers have a Playstation,” Enid offers, finding gall to turn the car on. It roars to life as Enid imagines a comical scenario of Wednesday with a gaming headset. She grins devilishly at her friend before finally pulling out, “I’d tell you to Google, but…”

Enid gives the phone that sat idle in Wednesday’s tote a glowering look. She wished the seer had smashed it, or gotten rid of it entirely. Better yet, left it at home with Thing to keep an eye on it.

Wednesday just crosses her arms, blowing air through her nose.

“Your concern over my device is flattering, however I doubt my alleged ‘stalker’ is a genuine factor. I’ve yet to even begin to feel any legitimate paranoia,” Wednesday says it like she’s bothered—inconvenienced at best. Rolls her eyes like she’s bored of the conversation already, “Its amateur spy work at best.”

All the while Enid feels her wolf start to stir. The wagging tail going up in alert, with the beasts own wrath at its object of desire being threatened. No thoughts of self soothing or lack of fear from the seer seemed to matter.

(I don’t care. Don’t like it when she’s in danger. Need to keep her safe in the nest.)

Enid chews her lip, agreeing with her wolf to an extent, but knowing the seer would never go for it. Even if they were together, Wednesday thrived in her own independence and part of Enid wonders if she low key gets off on being told not to do things.

She had a knack for getting into danger and a namesake that carried it.

“Don’t sound too disappointed,” Enid tries to joke, but her gruff tone and eyes probably give her away. A quick look in the rear view and she can see her own irises glowing. Enid released her lip with trepidation, “Almost like you want me to hulk out again.”

Wednesday, now leaning against the window with her head on her hand just shrugs. Lips vaguely twitching up in what Enid knows must have been a chilling, macabre thought. Likely including her claws.

“That would be quite the fetching early gift…”

Its almost funny, how quickly her wolf could go from wanting to tear someone apart to simping over her roommate. 

And that roundabout way of admitting that she wanted to see her wolf again for Christmas has the beast inside preening. It howls in pride, while Enid’s palms get sweaty. Her eyes widen, steeling them back towards traffic, lest she crash trying to catch a glimpse of the dimples she’s only witnessed once.

(She likes us! She wants us! Kiss her you fool!)

Oh, thats not—

Enid hits the brakes at the next light way harder than she needs to. She also definitely almost tapped the bumper in front of her, embarrassing enough; Wednesday overtly goes to look at her.

Enid licks her lips, nervously tucking hair behind her ear and rerouting to something far more safe to vent about.

“Speaking of Christmas…I have to tell you about Charlie.” She starts talking at the shorter girl, while mentally she fights off her meddling wolf with stick. “Leo too, but he’s getting here closer to the 24th—thank god.”

Thankfully, Wednesday hums in understanding, nodding slowly and taking the bait.

“That’s the one you have the most grievances with, correct?” She asks, checking for Enid’s head nod before continuing. “Do you believe your other brother will take sides? Shall we prepare for a coup?”

Enid knows she means well, but Wednesday fighting with her older brothers would make things even worse. The twins were annoying, but still young enough and not nearly as estranged. If not only cause they went to the same school.

Enid makes a noise of thought, deciding how best to make it make sense to someone like Wednesday. Someone who’s family had customs not built on things like status or hierarchy.

“Its not like that—not entirely, ugh. Wolf law is so hard to explain sometimes…” She switched to one hand on the wheel, scratching at her head in thought. She purses her lips, “A lot of it is innate, kinda like common sense? Idk, I just know they most likely wouldn’t try to challenge me. If not only because they’re off doing their own thing.”

And hadn’t seen her as a factor to begin with, probably. But that’s best kept to her own insecurities for the moment.

“But you suspect some type of ulterior motive, as you did with your parents?” Wednesday asks next with the barest of pause in between.

Its in that way she tended to speak when she knows theres something deeper. Something someone isn’t saying. Enid’s not being purposely vague necessarily, she just doesn’t know how to explain.

How do you tell someone who has to complain about how affectionate their parents are, about being a pariah amongst your own blood for so long?

“I feel like I’m waiting for a bomb to go off that only I can see,” Enid eventually finds some words. “Like it’s fake and some big joke that I’m gonna realize too late after I fail at leading the hunt. And being a ‘real’ Alpha…”

She uses her free hand to make finger quotes, clicking her teeth and wishing she’d turned the radio on or something. She feels so out of wack she didn’t even think to put on her driving playlist. At least then Wednesday would be complaining about the pop songs she added, instead of hitting so close to home.

“You keep reinforcing these false notions on your ability to lead,” Wednesday sounds irritated to her surprise. “As if I would dawn those cheap, costume ears and cat suit for some inept captain who doesn’t know left from right.”

(She’s accepting us as Alpha.)

Her wolf felt great pride whenever Wednesday spoke up on her behalf. Like her dark knight with saber in hand—be it verbal or physical. Always so sure of Enid’s ability before she’d done anything at all.

Enid’s ego definitely appreciates the confidence boost too, but the airport loomed closer with each passing stop light.

“What happened to the half-wolf that threatened me with a pair of nails?” Wednesday presses next, “She left much more to be desired.”

(Half-wolf?!)

“Watch it,” Enid feels her eye twitching. “My claws get longer than your entire arm now.”

(She’s holding doubt now. We should’ve killed something for her as I suggested.)

She suddenly doesn’t feel at all in the mood for her wolf’s opinion on anything. Like…at all.

If nothing else, Wednesday sure could break her down just as easily as build her up. Even if logically Enid knows the girl is poking at her on purpose.

Doesn’t stop her wolf from becoming frustrated with her and the way she stubbornly tried to hold it in. A fresh growl rumbling up her throat and the nails in question beginning to prick the steering wheel.

She looks to Wednesday fiercely, from those dark eyes to her extending claws. The seer only breathes out amused, lips twitching up in morbid delight.

Like she planned this from the beginning.

“Now…act like it.”

Chapter Text

It is a truly dreadful day.

A truly, truly detestable day.

Along with the conclusion of her call with Enid, came an entirely new issue.

Wednesday felt compelled (against her entire will and being) to consult her mother for…for help.

Lucifer drag her down…

Her ‘stalker’, though that was a generous word for it, considering the lack of much other than threat; gorilla graphic designs of the horror variety was more like it. Its amateur if nothing else and quite frankly its rather disappointing. She even told them as such, leaving a rather miffed review in the text box for replies. 

She hadn’t received another reply since. Let her reiterate—amateur. And pitifully so.

Anyhow, it would have to take a well deserved back burner. It appears something more dire has taken precedence: her feelings.

Yes…its been troublesome, having this strange empathy. These stirrings that activate with specific turns of phrase, or actions. Some things, she’s found, have the ability to garner more of this phenomena than others. Some people—namely, her kinfolk, her family.

In therapy and before her untimely passing, Dr. Kinbott had implied that perhaps she cared a great deal for her brother. She had only seen herself as possessive, dangerously protective if nothing else. Pugsley was hers to torture and not only that, but she felt it her blood right as siblings.

Her comrades, like Eugene, she thinks it began to make more sense. ‘Relationships’ she’s built in her short time at Nevermore. She had no real reason to feel much of anything for the younger boy, yet she did. Rather akin to her little brother, actually.

She believes she’d be ‘sad’ to see her hive mate go without warning. She’s not been required to do therapy any longer, however in lieu of dying (?) and the school’s destruction she has had assigned work books. Of course the lack luster US justice system saw mere pages to be adequate help after what she’d witnessed. Luckily she’s never been the squeamish type.

Her mother had been attempting to include them with her daily psychic lessons. Wednesday would prefer to get to the nitty gritty; she had gotten better at conjuring visions without losing her own footing. Of course, her mother blamed it on her emotional ‘growth.’ 

A ‘clear mind gives open path to your visions’ or so she had talked up.

Wednesday’s come to terms with these things in a textbook sense first and foremost.

The most perplexing thing had been Enid. Which, she was highly suspecting such. An anomaly, as the blonde had mentioned many moons ago and yet…they did far more than just ‘work’.

And like any good detective, she lined up her clues. That first weekend back had found the reinvention of her murder board, albeit modified to pancreas pink, rather than blood red. Much more tolerable when she compares the bubblegum like complexion to innards.

She’d never say it aloud, but the credit truly goes to Thing. After attempting to and subsequently becoming further infuriated at Puglsey for giggling at every question she posed. She could’ve called Lurch in for help if all she needed was company.

~

‘You are…incredibly dense.’ Thing had tapped, after walking inside and taking in the magnitude of her Enid-board. ‘Or perhaps simply narrow minded and oblivious to all else.’

Was that not the same thing?

Wednesday, with a rapier in hand and pointing at a selfie of Enid at the beach that she had circled. For some reason it made her chest constrict in a rather violent way, but the accompanying feeling was anything but.

“Yes,” Wednesday had lowered her sword to frown in further frustration. “That is why I am at a loss, due to my internal bias over the situation at hand.”

Suffice to say, Thing’s exasperation was visibly on display.

~

Now, she didn’t hate Enid.

She found it was far from it, actually which she thinks surprised her the most. Moving pins and making notes she had to retrace her steps enough to remember that brief stint in Tanaka’s room. How she may have sulked that night, because…

Well, perhaps its not best to rehash the past.

A picture of said bag that she had sketched from memory is pinned next. Along with a picture of Enid’s empty bed that she had gotten from ‘Instagram.’ She had been hesitant about joining any kind of social media, for privacy and general distrust of the government. However, she realized that its immensely useful to use against the grain and be the one doing the watching.

She only followed Enid and Eugene, but it was enough for her investigation. She printed over half of those asinine squares out, ordering them by how Enid’s presence in each made her feel. Sweating palms and more endlessly confusing heart palpitations. 

Next, there was the factor of her own lively hood.

When she looks at Enid long enough it’s inevitable. The scars evident in her more recent pictures, along with the new found edge to her stance. The wolf stood a tad bit taller—stronger. Wednesday’s jaw works and her chest warms when she remembers her roommate’s battle with the Hyde. 

With Tyler. Enid still got this feral husk in her timbre when Wednesday dared mentioned him over the phone. 

Wednesday had been keeping tabs on him as well.

An escape attempt was already made and thwarted by authorities and more powerful outcasts on site after the brunt of the destruction. She had told Enid, if not only because it infuriated her and made her want to go back and finish the job.

She hated to leave things half done. She already had ‘attempted’ murder under her belt.

Enid had been even more livid than she. It was quite the sight, actually, watching those eyes flash like flickering bulbs. The guttural growl at Wednesday’s mentioning wanting to go back to Vermont, before Nevermore reopens. That had been her first time accepting a ‘Facetime’ request.

She didn’t go, even though her stubborn pride wanted. Wanted and craved so carnally for revenge. She found she couldn’t do much other than stay put, after seeing such a display from the newly transformed werewolf.

Another thing to pin on the board. She felt oddly flustered, hanging a picture that Enid had sent of her newly elongated fangs.

She had been texting Enid quite often, even daily since their departure. Most of the time its rather one sided, as Wednesday’s strict schedule wasn’t to be interrupted for the device. She had a designated slot, right after her writing time before she either went to bed or practiced cello depending on the day.

Sometimes they over lapped, when Enid was insistent she play something to lull her sleep. Wednesday obliged her, more often than not—always. She found herself looking forward to that slot of time.

Had even started carrying the dreaded technology with her, sneaking glances at the updates sent her way about the progress of the wolf. Even if she waited to reply, usually. Her mother had caught her a few times, during seer practice, smiling in that way she tended to when she thinks she knows something.

But that’s getting ahead of herself. She hadn’t anything to be in the ‘know’ of, up until the the other day.

When her Enid-board had been dissected by a singular hand. To save her own ego—Thing had very kindly told her that perhaps she had a ‘crush.’

Upon asking what in the world that was, he likened it to obsession. Something she can’t be without, that vexes her in its absence.

‘I notice you ending your writing hour earlier and earlier to talk with Enid,’ He pointed out, making her eyes widen in recognition. She hadn’t even realized.

“I’ve merely had writers block,” Wednesday densely replied. “Hearing of Enid’s recent maiming of woodland creatures has been adequate inspiration to write gore.”

Thing had made a show of how exasperated he felt, before tapping more firmly.

‘Oh, I’m sure. You’ve bent a lot of your iron clad boundaries for Enid,’ Thing continued. ‘You allowed her to sleep in your bed when she was having nightmares.’

Wednesday felt irrevocably trapped by that statement. Chained to it, in a way.

She had, in the dead of night, allowed her whimpering roommate a spot in her bed. On multiple occasions, to the point Enid started falling asleep over there even when she wasn’t having nightmares.

Wednesday’s own bed back at the manor, even when she uses her nail covered insert…it hasn’t felt quite the same. Her queen sized mattress and canopy shroud her in solitude. Perhaps she had gotten used to Enid’s presence having integrated it into her routine. Perhaps she had even grown fond.

Perhaps…more than even Eugene. The thought of the boy in her bed made her face scrunch up. She had feelings for her hive mate but nothing like…that.

And perhaps…perhaps Thing wasn’t too far off.

What a lackluster conclusion, for such a complex conglomerate of her own misled efforts. Hmph. At least she got to use the murder board again.

She doesn’t quite know what to do with this information, however. Enid was otherwise occupied, if not with her wolf then the glaring factor of the gorgon. He wasn’t necessarily a topic of their discussions, almost like it was unspoken to not bring him up.

But, his place in the wolf’s life still lingered. He had habit of ‘tagging’ Enid in things on that silly app, making her feel something Thing called ‘jealousy.’

She prefers envy—that implies she would be do better in his place. Social media was nothing, she would buy Enid a star In the sky, if she wanted her name projected to the masses. Take her to one of their many properties out of state, or country to create a grand display upon her entry.

But, again that would be getting ahead of herself. Ahem.

Really, she would have to talk to Enid herself. She should, shouldn’t she? It was technically about her, wasn’t it…

When she requests to see the wolf face to face, however, well…well, she doesn’t quite get to the point. She rambles for longer than necessary about mother’s breathing techniques, before she’s interrupted. Granted, its with another invitation to visit in person, but that just makes her palms dreadfully sweaty.

Is it hot in her room suddenly?

And Enid, she looks like a lost puppy. Shrill and flailing over her mother having some ulterior motive. Ironic, considering it was Wednesday with the underlying surprise so to speak.

But Enid’s pouting, with those glimmering blue eyes and she can’t say no. She has to soothe, has to do anything in her power to get that dopey smile back.

Only what she sees…

It keeps her up that night. Laying arms crossed staring at her ceiling as spiders crawl about her stomach in a fit of her own excited nerves. She’ll be visiting the apparent object of her affections in but a few days time.

She’d send for Uncle Fester in the morning. He’ll be overjoyed to get the chance to pilot a plane again, plus she’ll arrive far more prompt than a commercial airline. It’ll be great to stall, before she must face the inevitable. The very thing she dreads most in this life. Her own undoing, that makes getting out of bed all the more droll.

She has to…ugh, she has to ask her mother for advice. And probably talk about…feelings…together.

She can barely contain her nausea, brushing her teeth and tongue. It makes her gag more than usual.

As per usual, her mother is in the greenhouse. Its a gorgeous day out, dark clouds cloaking the skies and tucking the manor in fog and dead trees. Mother’s plants seemed to have life of their own, though. She walks in on her feeding omnivorous strain, that she had named ‘Cleopatra’, and she certainly got the queen treatment. Her mother spoiled all her children.

“Oh, whos a good girl?” Morticia croons, patting the plant on its head as she entices it with what looked like jerky. “Would you like lunch, my dear?”

The plant growls as it devours the strips from her mother’s generous hands. She giggles and praises the green beast, Wednesday waiting patient with hands stiffly in front. Really, she’s fine delaying the inevitable if not only to have moment to prepare.

“Mother, I—“

“Just a moment, my girl, I’m almost done…” Her mother trails, the younger seer noting the sheer she held behind her back. She snips at Cleo’s extra growth while the plant is distracted. “Ah, much better…now, Wednesday are you ready to begin for today?”

The taller woman beams down at her, removing and folding her black gardening gloves. Wednesday finds herself struggling for eye contact, in a rare showing of nerves.

“I’m…unable to complete my studies today,” Wednesday tries and fails to start. Her mother looks more worried than not, dropping her garden tools and coming over to look at her proper.

“What ails you, my moldy peach,” She asks in concern, trying to get a good look at her daughter’s face. “You’re red as sin! Are you coming down with a fever?”

Wednesday grunts, hating the extra attention drawn. Even more, the way her mother tries to ‘take care of’ her, doting over her like she’s due for hospice. Though, it certainly feels that way with how uncomfortably it settles in her belly.

“I’m afraid I’m not ill—at least not in any way that’s preferable,” Wednesday grumbles that last bit. At her mother’s growing trepidation she pinches bridge of her nose and sighs.

“Its ok to need a break, dear, I can fetch medicine from Grandmama at—“

“I’m not sick, mother!” Wednesday has to stop the woman from floating away with her own ideas and assumptions. She even has audacity to grab the older seer by the sleeve, making her eyes widen. At least she’s finally stopped, giving her daughter full attention.

Wednesday decides how to say it. In so many words or just enough? Regardless, her mother would make a mountain out of a mole hill.

“I—…I was speaking with Enid last night,” Wednesday begins, her mother watching and nodding to get her to continue. The younger seer swallows, clearing her throat, “She requested my presence, by pack invitation.”

Her mother’s brow quirks at those last few words. Like she had said something unknowingly important—which, from Enid’s anxiety she knew such traditions held weight. Her ignorance on said customs left her lost on how much so, however.

“Are you looking for assistance in making a decision?” Her mother asks after letting the words hang for a moment.

“I’ve already accepted,” Wednesday replies easily. “That’s not my dilemma. Not necessarily…”

Her mother hums, brows raising even higher up her forehead if even possible.

“Do tell? But, take your time, as I know these things aren’t easy for you.”

“As if I need training wheels for these silly whims,” Wednesday stubbornly retorts. Clenches and unclenches her fists, “I had a vision during the call. A very vivid vision with a lot of implications I find myself…encumbered.”

Theres a furrow in her brow as she recollects. As she remembers what she saw. What she heard—what Enid had said.

What Enid had referred to her as.

~

The Facetime Incident:

“Mother told me to focus on finding the feeling vs it finding me…”

She remembered telling the worried girl, her face up close to her phone screen and pupils dilating. Wednesday hated seeing those left over insecurities win, when she knew what her roommate was capable of. What the wolf was capable of.

Yes, when she thinks about Enid—about the way those sharp, blunt fangs pierced Tyler’s skin. The Hyde being rag dolled around the way Thornhill had expected her to be before inevitably being killed. It made her heart accelerate the way one might feel during a high speed chase. Thrill of heights or great escape, like when she last assisted her uncle with a arson.

Watching Tyler bleed after attempting to best her. His ill fated attempt at killing an Addams for their cold blood ending in blood and chains.

It was glorious. She can almost…

“Do you…do you see anything?”

Nothing but a shared memory. And while it was an admittedly happy one, its not what she’s seeking. Though, she definitely understands why Thing had called her dense in her ignorance to her own admiration. She didn’t have to try hard to tap into Enid’s energy at all.

~

She’s in this strange half state when she closes her eyes. A dark forest where she stands in her uniform, head turning in a jerk at every foot step. Hands into fists, she doesn’t see anything.

As if she’s not even in Jericho’s woods anymore. As if she’s somewhere else—

A spine straightening howl wracks itself through the trees. So powerful it makes her body crouch down low, in defense of what may come. Wednesday’s head whips to and fro as she takes in the surroundings. She dodges swiftly behind a tree, hand to her chest as she slows her breathing.

Diligently counts her heart rate. Makes sure she doesn’t sound like prey.

Then she hears yips sound off in the distance, growing louder. Stampeding, she sees balls of massive fur catapulting in her direction. A fierce blonde wolf tearing through trees and brush with its maw quaking with a growl. She knows its Enid from the colors streaked around it’s scruff. Wednesday doesn’t think she’d ever forget those glowing eyes that saved her life.

She’d gotten bigger as well. Much bigger.

“Where is she?”

Wednesday frowned, wondering who on Earth the wolf was looking for, if not some unsuspecting rabbit or deer. Come to think of it—that howl would’ve scared away anything with a working reflex. For miles over.

The larger wolf turns to two other wolves in similar stature, though a good head shorter than her. She believes the other two to be her fellow Sinclairs. Perhaps her siblings from the way they looked like twins, sandy blonde and thick coats for Winter.

She watches the largest wolf roar, before growling and sending an angry bared paw at a tree. The wolf makes easy work of the wood, like it’d been thin as paper. Sends it toppling over in a mess of dirt, twigs and long roots.

Wednesday’s head peaks out in genuine curiosity at the animalistic speech between the wolves. Enid’s paws waving about like she’s scolding the other two.

Meanwhile the smaller wolves cower, sheepishly looking at either the ground or each other.

“S-Sorry Eni—I mean Alpha!” The one on the left whimpers, making Wednesday genuinely take a moment to blink.

They can speak in their Lycan form? How…fascinating. She would have to test this observation during her visit.

Though, she supposed looking at Enid’s future would mean viewing it as such. Perhaps it was foolish of her to assume they communicated in barks and growls. Not to give these furballs too much credit, anyway.

“She ran off without telling anyone!” The other wolf sounds less pitiful and more bargaining. If that was Enid then that meant the other two vermin were likely her brothers. “I swear I tried to stop her but you know Addams! S-She doesn’t listen to anyone but—“

A sharp bark and growl cut off whatever excuse the twin was giving. Both their heads bury into the ground, noses digging into the dirt in unspoken obedience. It makes the seer’s lips quirk up in delight, unconsciously as she watches wolves in their element.

The large blonde wolf could kill either or both of them…no longer would they doubt what Enid could do.

Wednesday’s further intrigued at mention of her name. She has a delayed reaction in fact.

She is supposed to be checking for any mishaps should she decide to visit. Seems she’s the apparent cause. Which would undoubtedly make the most sense.

That meant Enid had nothing to worry about. No calculating individual would dare act amongst a full pack of adult werewolves. Even the two idiotas that she quickly realized were Enid’s twin brothers.

Future Wednesday probably broke away from the two massive deadweights and decided to recon on her own. Lucifer knows how she ended up flanking with those two nimrods in the first place. Her own survival skills were impeccable.

Well, then. With that solved, she could simply let Enid know that Esther’s lackluster insults could never—

“I trusted you two dumbasses with my mate,” Enid growls threateningly. Her muscles shaking beneath mounds of fur, “Now where is she? Where is Wednesday?”

Well…that’s different.

In fact it was unfathomable. Not possible in the slightest.

Enid was still texting with that simple minded gorgon. Wednesday herself had only just made the connection that her feelings connected to Enid was that of affection.

It jostles her so viscerally, she’s back in her room again in a blink. Several blinks on her part, heart hammering and breaths coming out harshly from her nostrils.

Had she heard that correctly?

~

“Wednesday? Wednesday?”

That sounded a lot more like her Enid.

…Rather—the Enid she’s more acclimated to hearing. Not that gruff, commandeering tone of her wolf. That’s what she meant. 

She blinks her eyes and sees that Enid fading back in.

Blinks another time for good measure, because she had been gone long enough that she began to think it was a dream. Her nightmares weren’t nearly as confusing. That had to have been some sort of stress dream Enid had projected onto her, or—

Tsk.

Wednesday can’t think—can’t process with Enid so close sometimes.

This was one of those times. Those worried eyes darting around her face like a shepherd to its sheep. Protective and blind to all else, as if she could claw whatever dared harm Wednesday through the phone screen.

Its unnerving seeing the same look in those human eyes…like that vision was real. Well, she could only conclude it to be a possibility, but still Enid had worried about her like a…

Had referred to her as—

“Was…was it that bad?” The blonde makes a cringed expression, still thinking about something else entirely. Ignorant to what Wednesday had witnessed.

She loathes to keep things like this from her roommate. The earful she had gotten when she had decided it better to room with Tanaka of all people. Rather room with a leech than assist in her suicide mission. At the time she hadn’t understood, until Enid had caused those insipid feelings of loneliness. 

She’d felt entirely too much in that period of time. Enough for the next decade.

This wasn’t nearly as life or death, however. She believes so, at least.

“Your stress will spike during a full moon’s hunt, however I sense no secret nefarious plot on your mother’s end.” And its not entirely false, simply…a twist of the truth. “How disappointing.”

~

Her face burns as she gives her mother a cliff note version of events. She leaves out some particularly mortifying emotion shown on her end of course. Though, she had to explain more than she cared for in getting from A to B.

She doesn’t stammer, doesn’t pause, but still feels an uncomfortable sweat start to accumulate under her collar. Bat wings fluttering about her belly, even though she’s never felt anything like guilt in her life. Its unnerving, for some reason, standing before her mother to deliver this discovery.

She never says the words directly, but…

“And I suppose, with all that in mind, my question to pose is regarding the believability. Rather, the probability that everything I saw is to be?”

And her mother had kept her expression surprisingly impassive. Almost alarmingly so, considering how invasive she tended to be in lieu of Wednesday’s lack of transparency. 

“Our visions always come to pass,” Morticia reminds her, cocking her head as if she’d asked an odd question. “However I do believe I’m a bit lost dear—how exactly did this declaration in your vision make you feel?”

Her mother asks her carefully—delicate, probably because she knows Wednesday’s capacity to speak candidly about these things was terribly low.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Wednesday questions back, defensively. But her mother only shrugs, the expression telling her that she would have less choice here than she anticipated. Wednesday grumbles, “I am…pleased with the results I witnessed. I just wanted to be sure.”

Her mother is quiet, but that ghost of a smile still prods the corner of her mouth. She extends her hand, black silk sleeve like a rope being tossed. Wednesday eyes it cautiously.

“Come my little storm cloud,” She croons nodding her head towards the bench facing the glass wall to the outside. “Sit with me while I tell you a little story…”

They settle on a hand welded seat. Long and black, ornately carved and sturdy to the ground. It was beautiful, the arms and legs shaped like onyx leaves.

“I couldn’t always make sense of my visions growing up. Larissa, she—“ Her mother stops herself, moving imaginary hair from her face. Swallows down something sentimental, Wednesday can tell in the way her eyes don’t match her smile. “She…She had always told me my visions were fantastical. The first time I saw an ancestor of my own was the first time I invited her home with me.”

Her mother sounds nostalgic, but she can see that forlorn look in her eyes. Wednesday stays quiet, in both curiosity and respect. Weems was a lot of things to the younger seer, but she didn’t think it compared to her mother’s view.

They had…history.

The funeral had been a heavy affair, if nothing else.

“Curious thing she used to be…getting herself trapped in my family’s alter room after turning herself into a perfect copy of myself. I found her shaking and the second I went to embrace her and tell her our spirits mean no harm, I—…”

Her mother stops herself, her smile tightening and eyes moving ahead. Wednesday didn’t know what to say about it; about how to grieve. Or tell someone how to do so.

That perhaps its time to try to let go.

She’d never had such trouble being rude to her mother before. Something stops her from it. That strange empathy she’s been feeling. Wednesday had found herself standing between her mourning mother and an eerily silent Enid. Bandages still covering her face, and coat loose on her shoulders.

Closed casket and quaint, though full of students and staff. Even alumni came to pay respects; Principal Weems had touched a lot different individuals it seemed.

“Perhaps someday she could tell you. She’d remember better than me and she was always a better storyteller…” Morticia says, not lingering too long. Implying something Wednesday’s not inclined to challenge. Instead, she nods, allowing her mother to be.“Have you still been sleeping with your little ‘tchotchke’ I gave you?”

A flawless subject change, pivoting to her and her past words. Her naïveté having seen all she thought the gates of Nevermore had to offer. She pulls it from the front of her dress, where it had been tucked under her trench coat.

“I haven’t taken it off,” Wednesday confirms. Looks to her mother with intense eyes, “I want answers. I’ll do whatever deemed necessary.”

And then her mother is chuckling.

At her expense she must assume, as she can’t imagine what could possibly be so amusing. She nearly forgets that ‘empathy’ nonsense to inquire as such, but her mother shakes her head.

“You’ll loathe to hear this even more, but…” Morticia smiles at her warm, crooked and most like herself she’s looked since she’d been home. “You remind me so much of your father when he courted me. Willing to do anything to win my hand. You have his passion ten times over, my little Scorpio.”

Wednesday visibly cringed, clenching her teeth and recoiling. While she respected her father in many ways she would never belittle herself as such. The man would crawl, hands and knees on the floor of the foyer when her mother walked in the front door for Lucifer’s sake.

It was a mortifying display. She’d never do that for Enid…at least…not in front of others…

“I’ll choose to swallow that, along with my dwindling pride.” The younger Addams opts to turn her head, but certainly not to hide.

“My point, my mini Gomez,” Morticia pauses to let her audibly gag and groan at the title. “I have exactly the ancestor to call for help!”

“Aside from Goody, I am unaware of who else would understand my current ailments,” Wednesday’s brow furrowed in her disbelief. “I was told ravens were rare in our bloodline.”

Goody had also told her that her path was meant to be a lonely one. While she had begun to accept that she, on occasion may need assistance of a comrade or two, she was still having issue categorizing these things. She’s regrettably ignorant on how comfortable relying on other people.

“Sweetheart, I’m afraid this subject may be out of a raven’s wing span—no offense of course,” Morticia amends at her scowl. “I believe this calls for the help of another little birdie I know.”

She says it in that sagely coy way. That cadence that makes Wednesday’s skin prickle. 

“What, another saccharine minded dove like yourself?” Wednesday scoffed, assuming the worst. But her mother only laughs good natured.

“Close, but not quite. I believe this situation calls for a swan.”

/

Her great (however many greats her mother had recited on the walk to the study) aunt had left her mother a broach.

A gaudy thing, sparkling with stones a deep red in trim. The center say a larger translucent-like ruby stone, but her mother very quickly let her know—

“Oh, thats blood of course. Where from? Hmm…you know, I’m not quite sure! She was always the resourceful type,” With a fond smile for her deceased relative. Wednesday only nods, knowing that would likely make things much simpler.

Blood was easy to track back to the source. Possibly the easiest, yet more insidious ways of activating magic. Especially when dealing with blood of one’s own. The Addams family line held so many variants of witchcraft, she found the metaphysical came innately, though.

Thing’s with then now as well, helping her mother’s candle placement by lighting them after. Wednesday holds the heirloom in her palm, rolling it around and watching the sticky blood re-stain with each jostle.

Really, her intentions made the most of it. Good magic giveth in the same vein that in that it may take. Its why most humans give up or simply see it as child’s play. Wednesday blames those cartoon abominations that Enid called ‘Disney movies.’

More mindless consumption of media that served as a backtrack for her writing one evening. When Enid had exclaimed she needed to experience what the wolf had in her childhood. Eager as if she was still a puppy. Thats the only reason the seer agreed…

At least, at the time that’s how she rationalized it. In hindsight, the allowance of stuffed animals in her bed and Enid’s leg atop her own was suspiciously reciprocated. Her own had tangled unconsciously…comfortably.

“Wednesday, dear!” Morticia calls, drawing her attention. “If you would do the honors?”

Wednesday looks to see the seance circle was prepared. Her thoughts having distracted her enough. The younger seer gives a tight nod, jaw working as she clenches the heirloom in his fists. These things can’t be rushed, however time wasn’t synonymous with energy.

While she wanted to work until she bested them, her splitting headache after over doing it wasn’t pleasant. It only adhered her from starting on time the next day. She’s calculated with how she uses her weight.

Crouched with her mother and begrudgingly locking hands.

“Now, I’m not quite sure when Aunt Cordy acquired this piece. Although, it shouldn’t effect the way she appears,” Morticia warns before they begin. “She’s had it in her possession since I was a little girl. She always told me it was a gift, but she did it with just the slightest twinkle in her eye.”

Her mother chuckles to herself, exchanging a certain twinkle-in-the-eye with Thing. A memory, probably something from far before her conception.

“Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, then,” Wednesday murmured under her breath.

“Anywho,” Morticia gives her a look telling that she definitely heard that, in spite of how she still smiles. “I’m ready whenever you are, darling—Thing, be a dear and get the overhead lights for me?”

The hand pitter patters its way across the room, a tell tale click covering them in evening glow. Its not quite night, but the clouds covered anything bright enough to really tell. The candles bellow now, heating the room just slightly as the wax drips over them.

Her mother often chooses the colors, more versed in their meaning. Wednesday just needed the platform.

She begins her chant like a whisper. A passageway narrow enough for just them. No interlopers, only intention. Incantation. Rinse and repeat as she speaks the bit of latin she’s been taught.

“…Cordelia Frump, I summon thee, with humble offering of your most prized mortal possession,” She ends with the broach placed in the center.

She has no choice but to meet eyes with her mother. Forced to see the pride in her eyes, even as she steels herself for the ritual. It nearly breaks her focus, if not for apparition that follows. Like a portal opening between them.

A visible orb of light.

“Oh, Auntie Cordy its been years!” Morticia speaks first, eyeing the ball of light as if it summoned the full thing.

Spirit orbs only had so much strength. Method of death and family lineage an imminent factor on how you appear to the human eye. Most of her ancestors were strong enough to conjure physical forms as well, if only for the time given.

“Little Tish? Oh, give me a hug you—“ the orb speaks in glee and tries to move forward, until it realizes. “Oh! Silly me, give me a second now…its been a few decades.”

The orb shifts and seems to consume itself for a moment. Just to burst into flecks of spirit dust like sparks from a firework. It reveals the silhouette of a woman, around her mothers height. Hair atop her head in a beehive, pure white with a streak of black.

She wore a fur coat of all things, like a white cloak and had eyes as dark her own. Overjoyed, Cordelia cackles to herself, throwing her head back.

“Thats much better! Now, Morticia Frump—“ Faster than she can blink, her mother had flung herself at the ghost in an embrace.

“Its Addams now, auntie,” Morticia reminds her with a giggle. She holds the woman at arm’s length, “Remember my boyfriend from school?”

Cordelia’s eyes widen in recognition, expression becoming much softer.

“The one with a criminal record and family curse?” The grip on her niece tightens and the two of them vibrate their excitement as Morticia nods rapidly. Meanwhile Wednesday meets eyes with Thing, mimicking a gun to the head with her hand.

“Yes, exactly him!” Morticia confirms. “We have 3 dreadful children together just like you said I would…. But for right now I’d like you to meet my eldest.”

Her mother turns towards her finally, presenting her with wave of her hand. Wednesday sized the woman up already, but felt no need to lower her defenses. If she’s truly of her blood she’ll understand.

“Howdy, great Aunt Cordelia,” She greets with crossed arms and a curt nod.

“So polite!” The older woman coos, before she makes the grave decision to come closer. “Come, give Auntie Cordy a kiss, will you—“

Wednesday puts a stop to any of that very quickly.

“Careful, before you prematurely reenter the afterlife,” She warns, sinking a blade into her Aunt’s midsection.

Luckily, she always kept a knife tucked in her sleeve for times like these. Unfortunately, in no longer being alive, the knife does not much aside from go through her Aunt like butter. And not because of how well she’d sharpened it.

“A prickly thing you are, Tish no wonder you called for my help,” Cordelia chides, hands going to her hips. Its almost comical with her knife sticking out. “Now, what’ll it be? Whats your flavor—tall dark and handsome? That would be too on the nose, wouldn’t it? A bit of color would fit much better.”

Wednesday’s eyes narrow at the eerily accurate observation. She looks to her mother suspiciously, the woman holding her hand to her mouth in amusement.

“Right on the nose as always, Aunt Cordy,” Her mother chuckles, while her daughter grinds her teeth. “Exactly why we called for you!”

“We is being purposely vague,” Wednesday corrects, before voicing her irritation. “I’ve not the slightest idea why we’ve summoned someone who speaks in cryptic nothings.”

Aunt Cordelia cackles once more, finding her slights endlessly amusing.

“Such sharp talons on this one! It would take quite the beast to satisfy, wouldn’t it?”The older seer wiggles her brows, insinuating knowledge that Wednesday’s growing impatient to decipher. 

“And how exactly would you know that, old croon?”

“Such harsh words for your Auntie,” Morticia coos, delighting simply in seeing her family together. Even as Wednesday huffs, their great aunt stands prim.

“I am a swan, little viper—we mate for life,” Cordelia explains, albeit in not so many words. Wednesday normally prefers short and sweet, but finds herself starved for context, even as the older seer goes on. “I was the go to match maker back in my day. Yep, not a pair can get past my eye!…Though, I’ll tell you—some people do not handle rejection well.”

Wednesday doesn’t attempt to hide her skepticism, so her mother jumps in to add on.

“She predicted I’d meet my beau when I entered the gates of Nevermore,” Morticia explains, co-signing the proud older woman. “Now, I admit I was quite lost on of a few of the details since we’d yet to meet face to face, but low and behold…”

She frames Wednesday’s face with her hands, beaming down at her in what’s probably great fondness and pride. Gross.

“How exactly does this aid in my dilemma?” Wednesday grits, hushed and with suspicious looks at Cordelia.

The woman looked back with a kind smile and posh wave. Wednesday only grew more weary, especially when her mother looks to gain enthusiasm.

“Aunt Cordy can tell you whether or not your werewolf is one that will last—with less of the bias you may believe me to have.” Her mother reveals, which, in all honesty she could have come to this likely conclusion.

Part of her plays coy in veiled trepidation. She’s never been a coward—a strategist is more fitting; she wanted to place her best foot forward before acting.

Another shameful side of her needs a moment to clear her brain fog after hearing Enid be referred to as her werewolf. Especially when she’s otherwise occupied—though she was more concerned with her mother than not. 

Was Ajax even still a factor? Dare she act upon anything if not?

“You received a formal invitation from the pack, did you not?” Cordelia mentions next, as if reading her mind. 

Because, Wednesday thinks that’s what befuddles her the most. During her restless night, she had inquired by way of multiple texts on what exactly to expect during a werewolf pack invitation. She hadn’t nearly understood the gravity of such a thing. 

Enid had emphasized the importance for all the wrong reasons. The wolf had neglected to inform her that such invitations are usually only bestowed upon non-wolves in form of courtship. 

It makes the young seer regain that cursed blush of color to her face. Enid making the first move, unintentionally or not. 

“I suppose I could be willing to hear her out.” Wednesday decides, after flitting eyes between the two women. And even Thing, who shrugs and gestures something along the lines of ‘I told you so already.’ Insolent hand he is.

“I know you’re not the biggest fan of one on one contact my viperine niece, but I may need your hand if not something that connects the two of you.”

Wednesday feels her face heat anew, knowing all too well where this was going. The fact that she’s been given two options, very specifically. The second is given with a twitch of the old bat’s lips.

She knows far, far more than she lets on.

Wednesday snaps twice, alerting Thing to stand at attention.

“Fetch my snood,” She orders. The hand gives a salute before he scuttles in haste out of the the room. Never once does Wednesday stop glaring at her relative.

“You’ll get wrinkles if you keep furrowing your brow like that,” Cordelia comments as they wait. Wednesday huffs air through her nose.

Morticia smiles between the two of them, standing as a bridge between waring factions. Rather, making sure her daughter doesn’t lunge and simultaneously acting as her aunt’s filter.

“Its so good to be amidst family, isn’t it?” Morticia fills the tension filled space with an ill attempt at reaching Wednesday’s dead heart.

Well, otherwise dead, until Thing crawls back in with her snood folded on his stump. He presents it proudly, Wednesday snatching it up and holding it like gold. She doesn’t let other people handle it, nor does she enjoy it when people touch her things in general.

It still had the faintest scent that accumulated within their dorm. Enid’s room spray mixed with her incense sticks, creating something earthy, but sweet. Not that she’s actively inhaling it or anything, her olfactory sense was just heightened. 

She just happened to notice is all.

“A gift from your beloved?” Cordelia asks with hearts in her eyes. Wednesday wanted to vomit at how much the woman genuinely appeared to enjoy romance.

“Hm. I thought that looked new,” Her mother mentioned, more like an aside. She only smiles when Wednesday turns to her, thankfully not prying further.

More often than not their seer training sessions take place inside the green house. She’d taken to wearing the scarf outside on chillier mornings, or if she wanted to lurk about the fog in the evening to visit Nero’s grave.

“Now, just let me hold onto—“

Wednesday jerks the fabric away with hard eyes before Cordelia can touch it.

“Swear that it will not be damaged first,” She requests. She would hate to see Enid’s sad puppy eyes when she’s not wearing it back to Nevermore because it’s been torn to shreds.

Yes, Enid would be devastated…

“I swear on my remaining moments of life!” Cordelia promised cheekily, “Anyhow…”

Before Wednesday can protest, her aunt is grabbing onto half of the snood while its still in her grasp.

~

She’s in a basement. She’s not sure why she knows, but the concrete floors and sound of footsteps creaking above give context.

Wednesday recognizes her cauldron. Her…mother’s cauldron, actually.

She can’t really crane her head to see if the same marks are on the side. She can’t move her body at all, actually. 

She feels like she’s watching herself work on auto pilot. Candle light flickers and she lets out a curse as she gets a whiff of the medicine she’s working on. She notes the ingredients off to the side: moonflower…quail egg…bone marrow. Chopped herbs and she stirs and stirs—

The basement door opens and she curses to herself again.

“Almost done! No need to come down,” Unconsciously, she runs to the stairwell and looks up to see her wife.

Her mate. Arm wrapped up in a cast, cuts on her face and still smiling down at her like she hung the moon. Like she took precedence over Selene herself.

Has she always looked at Wednesday like that?

“You should be resting.” Wednesday hears herself say and she can’t disagree. Even grinning, she has a love/hate relationship with Enid scarred.

She doesn’t like when other people touch her things.

“You weren’t in bed…” Enid whines and her heart aches. Wednesday can’t stand the sound of her wife being needy. She should never need—Wednesday would constantly give.

“I figured you and Willow would want lunch,” Wednesday hears herself say next, leaning on the wall. “You both slept through breakfast.”

Enid gets this look in her eyes, far too fond. Like this wasn’t new for them. 

She looks older, Wednesday thinks. She’s unaware of how much, but definitely not a teenager anymore. This Enid looked like she’d seen even more horrors, possibly not even at her hand.

Something tells her she had nothing to do with these new injuries.

Werewolf healing working overtime, the overgrown pup of a woman comes barreling down the steps and into her arms. Its only mildly awkward with the cast. Like they’ve done this before—been doing this.

“You take such good care of me and all the foster pups,” Enid murmured into her hair.

The part of Wednesday still but sixteen and seeking but a single answer feels her heart stop.

“You sound like you’re insinuating something, Mrs. Addams.” She hears herself whisper back, voice vulnerable with emotion. And she can only imagine so.

“That you’d be a great mom? Maybe…” Enid sings coyly and smiles, giggling when Wednesday looks at her with a fiendish smile back. Something crooked and promising.

And….

~

Wednesday rises with a start, gasping for breath until she sees her mother and Thing standing over top of her. Thing with a bottle of strong cleaning chemical to jolt her and her mother greeting her with a smile from ear to ear.

“Welcome back, darling!” Morticia claps her hands together, “How was it?”

But…Wednesday’s still taking in her surroundings.

Wringing her hands and flexing fingers, because its weird to be in control of the body she’s occupying again. She had been…elsewhere. The basement. In a home she’s not familiar, yet each step and breath felt innate.

How long had she been asleep?

“Where is Great Aunt Cordelia?” Wednesday demands to know when she realizes the older witch was missing. Not even her orb lingered in corner of her eye—only her broach remained in the circle.

She tries to get to her feet to grab for the heirloom, but finds herself dizzy. And terribly queasy, like motion sickness from being jostled too quickly. Her mother and Thing keep by her side, urging her to lay back down.

“You took a fall after she touched your scarf,” Morticia explains, nodding towards the snood she had been laying upon. “She stayed long enough to guide you to see whatever she deemed necessary. Her form was starting to fade off by then—tis the burden of maintaining apparition—but, she said we could wake you once she’d left.”

Wednesday just sits, face blank but mind racing with her mother’s recap of events while she was…dreaming? Was it merely a possibility?

What if…what if it was real? What if that could be her future with Enid?

What if she could have a future with Enid?

“Whatever she deemed necessary, eh…” She murmured to herself, letting the concept mull about her buzzing brain.

Perhaps she has been rather dense.

Chapter Text

Naive she had been, apparently. Simply calling it ‘dense’ was quickly becoming an understatement.

The thought of seeing Enid again, alone ignited more of these ‘emotions.’

It was a jarring confirmation of what Thing had eluded and her deceased aunt had prophesied. She was anticipating seeing Enid.

Hell, if she’s truly honest with herself, she can attest to the incessant heart palpitations that wreak havoc upon her chest cavity to the point she attempts to occupy herself. She even finds herself impatient on the plane ride, goading her Uncle to amp up his speed; like the sound of the plane creaking and beeping because of his liberties with the machine weren’t enough.

She had told Thing to let the blonde know she’s touched down safely. Part of her knew that the blonde would likely have a conniption if she led their meeting with anything about her stalker. Even though there’s truly much more to be desired.

She just can’t shake the memory of driving the blonde away in the past by prematurely involving her in an investigation. 

Thing agrees, albeit with tongue and cheek he doesn’t even have. She locked him in her suitcase with the stupid device when he attempts to tease her for ‘pussy footing about’—cabrón.

She’s flipping through some pamphlet about sight seeing in the area as she attempts to hold her scowl in waiting. She’d never let the general public see her lips quirk up. Even though it does amuse her when she catches sight of some woman hyperventilating about her first flight.

Wednesday’s about ready to gag at a couple embracing after touch down when she hears her name.

Ironic, actually, as she can hear those boots squeaking against the linoleum in a clear path to barrel into her.

Theres not any time to think, to look up or wonder. She knows its Enid because the embrace brings her back to life. Like muscle memory from the last time.

“Wednesday!”

The feelings—they became more than mere prodding at her otherwise dormant heart. It wasn’t even a moral dilemma. Enid’s touch after so long sent her ill fitted heart into a frenzy so extreme she wasn’t sure if she had made it off of Fester’s duster plane.

It had been small, only enough seats for the two of them and her baggage. And Thing, but he was often included in her carryon.

~

“Sure I can’t shock some sense into your beloved?” Fester had joked, in listening to her lament about the distance. The Gorgon, the Sinclairs and the blood moon.

“I’m afraid you’d be unsuccessful,” Wednesday replied, sighing wistfully. “Her heightened senses would hear you coming a mile away, if not the acrid scent we carry. She’d tear you limb from limb like a toy…”

Another sigh, followed by eyes rolling at herself when her uncle laughed at her.

“I fear you may have taken after my casanova brother after all, my prickly pear…peeled off your exterior,” Fester pries further. He takes his hand off the wheel a little too long, sending the plane teetering a tad before straightening it again. “Oops!…we’re all good—over!”

Fester called into his headset. He had a friend of a friend of an acquaintance and shadey dealings to thank for the help piloting. Wednesday knew questions were the enemy in these situations.

~

It had been a tumultuous ride including illegal crossing of state lines, violating multiple no fly zones and trespassing on private property. Granted it was more accurately above said property, but she wasn’t about to honor something enacted under colonialism. Nor did she honor their ‘borders.’

That is to say, none of the high stakes taken to get to California in such a short time had been easy. Mortifyingly and against her will, she doesn’t believe there is much in terms of obstacles that would stop her from seeing her roommate again.

Her wolf, again.

Ugh, its like a beast had been uncaged in herself as well. Except instead of a snarling, powerful apex predator she was dealing with budding affection. How repulsive. At least she gets to blame a curse on her bloodline. Curses were much more easy to stomach.

Moreover, it had became more overt the more she begins to come to life. The closer they get, Wednesday finds herself feeling not tired or even the slightest bit jet lagged. In fact she feels wired—wide awake.

Enid’s presence was like moon bathing; the lunar satellite had healing properties for an Addams. It was poetic, in a way, the fact that her other half lived by it too.

Her mother had told her as such. How proximity to the curse’s trigger would be rejuvenating.

~

“The last time your father left the country, to go bail out your uncle from that maximum security prison,” Morticia had waited for her to nod in recollection of that quiet week of time. “We were up for days upon his return…fueled with passion and—“

“I believe your point has been made, mother.”

As she prepared to leave, barely there mentally during her training that morning. Her mother let her leave early as well, with knowing eyes and joking about writing her off as ‘lovesick’ and ill for the day.

~

She was nothing of the sort. Cursed would more than suffice, thank you.

She had even fallen asleep the night before her leave with a book on Lycanthrope customs. There weren’t a lot of texts available to outsiders on non-mated sleuths like herself without permission. Still, she garnered enough to know why exactly her roommate is burying her nose into the back of her neck.

Not at all subtly, either. On top of her naturally high temperature, Enid had had her hot under the collar in another way.

She thinks even as a human she can relate in the significance on smell. When Enid hugs her—embraces her in that familiar perfume mixed with whatever the Sinclairs used in the laundry—thats when it all hits her. Her own olfactory sense alighting like neon sign she can’t ignore.

Something like…yearning. She knows this feeling.

Like when she’d go on vacation with her family to a place that didn’t allow room for her typewriter. She would miss the machinery as new ideas swam about her head and inspiration struck during her travels. She’d get this vibration of excitement at the sight of it in her bedroom after her return.

When Enid squeaks and releases her, apologizing and making distance…she thinks she can understand that emotion in people too. She’s missed Enid. And judging by the ache ringing in her chest at loss of contact of all things—she’d apparently missed the wolf a lot.

Lucifer, help her…she really does sound like her father, doesn’t she?

“I suppose I should expect nothing less from your kind. Give a stick and you mutts will run it a mile,” Wednesday has to duck her head, brushing off her jacket to deny her flustered face. Or the way she internally urged for the wolf to do it again.

“I just had to, I -I missed you so bad and…” Enid lets slip between more frantic apologies.

Except, things like missing people tended to digest far more easily in Enid’s belly. Emotions in general tended to settle a lot easier for her. Wednesday allows herself to look at her roommate again, but properly.

The first thing is always her eyes.

The garish color of her hair and the pink sweater don’t hold a candle to twin luminaries. They hold Wednesday in place, twinkling and lingering on her every move. The only thing more striking being the silvery skin of healing, scarred over skin on her forehead and cheeks.

They look a lot better than they did before they left school. Much better.

Enid did too. Much closer to her old self; less jumpy and more energetic. She looked strong, though Wednesday could see she was holding back. It makes her heart stammer anew when she recognizes why.

Perhaps the tape had been a tad bit…overkill. In hindsight.

“You require more affection, then?” She teases her roommate, feeling satisfaction in the way the blonde looks to share her ailment. Being, the current physical distance between them. She shrugs, as if doesn’t crave Enid’s touch, “Perhaps once I’ve settled in.”

And once these prying eyes are far away.

It’s ludicrous, but the way the wolf preens like a puppy getting praised for a trick, it warms her. Makes bats flail about her chest cavity, flustered heat never ceasing its assault up her neck. Especially when Enid makes easy work of her luggage.

She picks it up like toys, beaming at her with those sparkling blue eyes.

“I can wait!”

/

Enid was different around her family. Like a version of herself Wednesday didn’t hope to ever become acquainted.

She’s still the same, in the obvious sense of course.

Same head of candy coated blonde; just as brazen, loud and incessantly bubbly. In a way that felt uncanny because it seems the second they get back around her father it was shrill and paranoid.

Enid still wore the same pinks and blues that matched her dyed hair. Sent Wednesday those smiles that were all newly sprouted fangs and so close to splitting her face open that even she could not help but feel the warmth.

No, its that air of anxiety. The way she’s suddenly unsure.

Her roommate Enid had swore to never apologize. She forced Wednesday to accept her for who she was as an equal. Stood up to her when others were too afraid.

She bantered, kept up with Wednesday like no other opponent. Aside from, Barclay, but the siren didn’t make her feel nearly as inside out. Even in drawing blood. Her Alpha traits weren’t overbearing, but Wednesday’s never seen her that way.

Enid had it embedded into her skin. On the side of her face, scars that looked well faded. She’s known of other wolves, sustaining injuries from a good hunt or territorial disputes.

Yet, the thought of Enid caught in such an act of machismo and larrikin, its different. It’s always different with Enid—her boundaries and limits. Her mind, body and spirit.

“Look at her…I would die for her. I would kill for her. Either way, what bliss.”

In those moments in the car, when Enid looks so terribly unhinged…she thinks she understands. Those glowing eyes—the phone camera didn’t do them any justice.

The growls reverberated through her bones like bass bumping. It only delights her further, as she recounts her trip. When they’re sitting side by side in Murray Sinclair’s car.

“Just…” Enid had closed her worried eyes, taking pause in this strange way she’s been doing lately. Like she’s weighing or contemplating something in her head. “I’m just happy you’re here in one piece.”

A wary smile follows and Wednesday stares back blank as ever. Because Enid’s looking at her like she’s something to worry over. Something precious, to be protected.

The emphasis on herself not lost to her keen ears. Wednesday hadn’t ever thought herself to be a comforting person by any means, but…

Her darker eyes flicker down to tensed hands, that she notes had pricked through the fabric of the seat covers. The seer could guess why the elder wolf had them, with a litter of these beasts to tote about. Enid’s claws were testing it’s integrity.

Wednesday tentatively, almost curiously, takes her own black nailed hand and slinks it across the seat to place her pinky. It feels the vibrating nerves under taut skin.

And so warm. Enid’s always warm.

Then her ring finger joins, garnering a sharp breath from the wolf by her side. It takes a moment, but the claws give the poor car seat a break, sheathing back into the cuticle and palm flattening.

The growls simmer down soon after. Wednesday hums, sparing a glance to a quiet Murray Sinclair, then back to a flustered Enid.

She doesn’t move her hand. Enid doesn’t either.

“As am I.”

/

She thinks those twin idiotas had tainted her view of a werewolf’s capabilities. Sure, she thought the world of Enid, in fact she had single handedly garnered her interest in the species.

Wednesday’s only known a handful in her short life. She remembers the hyperactive toddlers one of her father’s clients had brought to the manor before. They were loud and messy, didn’t know their own strength and had broken one of her dolls she planned on beheading.

Enid’s brothers reminded her of that experience everytime she’s forced to speak to them. It took her personal voyage into studying after creating her ‘Enid board’ that gave her the bulk of what she knows.

Besides, it was no fun to simply ask.

She knows Enid would probably be extremely happy to talk her ear off about most subjects. The seer liked the idea of coming prepared. Perhaps even impressing her roommate with her newly accumulated knowledge.

Yes, she can picture her roommate now: Wide eyed, grinning ear to ear, pleasantly surprised and embracing Wednesday for her efforts and studies.

Wednesday had packed an undisclosed (for sake of her remaining dignity) amount of werewolf centered texts. Many of which she was cross referencing, even having tossed in a small book about puppy rearing into her bag in her haste to not be seen.

She just…wanted to be prepared is all…

Really, she thinks its a consequence of her woefully romantic and sentimental urge to court the wolf in her own way. These Gomez-isms that feel like a latent virus overtaking her.

Regardless, Wednesday had a lot of information to catch up on in terms of her rerouting investigation.

Customs that she had ignorantly labeled as simple Enid esque quirks, like the high energy and natural need to touch. Wolves liked being close enough to their loved ones to smell it.

Makes her think about hugging Enid, again. She’s thought about it more than likely healthy, but the way the blonde had buried her nose in her neck held new meaning. And/or it’s merely consequence of her silly brain that can’t stop thinking about it everytime she catches Enid’s eye.

Even at the airport, Wednesday recalls with a flustered sigh, Enid had gone directly to the source. While Wednesday didn’t believe herself to have a particularly welcoming smell to the average normie.

She’s smug when Enid insists in carrying her bags inside, after exchanging some words with her father about acquiring dinner. After watching the twins cower at her powerful roommate’s feet.

Good riddance. They didn’t deserve Enid’s grace.

She stands with arms crossed, her thoughts and the Sinclair abode. Its a large townhouse, with a garage they had driven into to park.

Lots of tools and slabs of wood, dirty sneakers tossed near the back door.

Enid’s family is every bit of that all-American dream. They’re really only missing the picket fence. A family of blonde heads and blue eyes, mainly boys and a hard working father with a doting wife. Wednesday knew better, however.

Esther Sinclair was hardly a mother in her eyes. Even if she’s suddenly come to her senses.

Apparently it takes her only daughter almost dying to force the woman to care. Wednesday can’t help but eye her like a threat, even if she knows that Enid was technically wrong in doing so. When she can see the pieces like fallen dominoes and the imprint they’ve left. The havoc it caused.

Theres that foolish theory, about a tree falling with no one to hear. Wednesday could see the broken foundation of this family tree very blatantly.

She keeps a mental list, like marking a crime scene. A new Enid centered list:

1.  Her mother’s pressure, like a thousand pounds of burden.
2.  Her father’s apathy, twiddling his thumbs into useless patterns against the bark like a appealing distraction.
3.  Her brothers—so many of them that she would have to categorize them.

The first of which being the eldest. She thinks Enid’s spoken about him the least in the time she’s known her. She hadn’t heard his name at all until the last week or so of time. She thinks the seed was planted there, in his place as the Alpha.

Esther had wanted someone with aptitude. She herself had led with faux sense of regality. Suburban lenses of grandeur.

Leopold Sinclair would prove to be the most intriguing of the Sinclair spawn. (Aside from Enid of course.)

The previous Alpha of which Wednesday couldn’t quite ID with confidence when she glimpsed the family portrait in the living room. Aside from the twins there were two other boys to decipher from. One blonde as Enid with dark eyes and the other with ginger hair and bushy mustache. They didn’t ring any bells, but they had similar smiles, blinding and sunny. 

Nor could she quite find the time to ask, either. Enid was terribly in her head. It looked as if she had to have some sort of mental correspondence to simply take a step to the left.

“Where do you keep going?” She can’t help but ask, once they’re back in Enid’s room. After another manic attempt at explaining the pack dynamic to her own curiosity and intrigue.

Up until she gets that look in her eye. Pupils darting about like she can see something Wednesday can’t. And Enid’s in no state to lie, mouth opening and closing as she tries to stammer something intelligible.

The seer’s eyes only narrow more. She allows Enid to spin some fib, though not entirely misleading due to the genuine anxiety in talking about her siblings. Wednesday’s forced to file it away regardless.

Its Things fault, ultimately…really, it is.

He just had to say something out loud about her (completely and totally under control) situation. Telling Enid about disabling her location and the stalker replying. When she’s yet to make the wolf aware, as she’s not worried about the vague threats and terrible planning.

Weren’t these devices supposed to be for fast and convenient sharing of information?

Now Enid’s suspicious and throwing a wrench in her investigation. And she can’t even enjoy having her plans floundered by such a formidable beast. Because—

Well…now she must tame said beast.

“Next time you need your sutures tightened, get Pugsley’s greasy fingers to do so then!” She had been harshly retorting, tossing out the first hurtful thing to come to mind. The rage leaves as soon as she notices how tall Enid’s growing.

And she’d grown a good few inches already. Along with becoming much hairier.

It was a welcome surprise, though, to witness a proper human/wolf hybrid.

“Tell me a name.” The beast growls, lips curled up over her teeth and vibrating the entire room.

Wednesday’s only shocked still with immense desire for this predator.

“I assure you, I have the situation under control,” She tries to assure, voice soft in clear awe. The beast doesn’t look to care, as if the stalker was awaiting down the steps for her this very moment.

Enid’s teeth clench so hard, sharp bark interrupting any reply she had on tip of her tongue. Wednesday’s more endeared than anything else, even with Thing tugging at her pant leg to move back.

How could she?

She’s drawn even closer at the site of such daggers, like glittering pearls attached to the object of her affection. She cocks her head a bit, amused before she opts to just flick her wolf on the nose like a misbehaving pup.

She uses the moment of wide eyed shock to get even closer.

“What would you say your bite strength like this is?” She’s captivated, holding Enid’s furry cheeks in her face. Her impromptu goatee like fur that framed her face. The ears that pull downward in submission at her touch.

How…cute. Hmm.

“Whatever you ask of me…” Enid’s voice was still gruff, gravely like paws in the dirt. Her furry hands. “I will hunt for you—I will kill for you.”

Thing is quaking in his place, meanwhile Wednesday’s swooning. Shes absolutely enamored. 

Amorcito…te amo tu forma de hablar.

Mi corazon, mi amor, mi todo…

Words she can’t even voice in English, as she fears they’ve been stolen along with her breaths. She thinks her father had understated these feelings that come in tandem with the curse. It’s with a cleared throat and pink creeping up her neck that she retorts.

“Flattery doesn’t make up for the drool on my person,” Its forced apathy, mainly because she’s not necessarily comfortable being reduced to such a needy thing. A lovesick fool that others outside of her bubble could see.

She can distract herself enough, focusing on Enid’s features. The aspects of herself that she looked to regret. Wednesday couldn’t get enough.

“Fascinating…” Is all she can say. When she’s in hold of her beloved, “It appears you’re not fully wolf—but you’re not entirely Enid, either.”

She didn’t have to consult Enid’s father to know this situation was likely rare, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to have a second opinion.

“I can’t go downstairs like-like this!” Enid’s words sound like desperate howls, teeth gnashing as her features meld. Her nose keenly twitching, as she whimpers and tail tucked around herself. “I don’t even know what this is!”

Thing of course is more keen to blame Wednesday’s single mindedness and need to know basis way of communicating.

‘Should have told her from the start. Now look at her!’

She was not going to be scolded by a hand…again.

“Enid, finish scenting your human and come eat!” Interrupts the commotion. Wednesday doesn’t care which twin it was, regardless she thinks they both go a bit bashful at the insinuation of that.

Nothing to break the tension aside from a belly rumbling. Enid chuckling diffidently at her bodily reaction. But Wednesday has a plan for this.

And so, she has Thing push.

Has him assist as they barely make it through Enid’s door without breaking the frame.

Thing looks more apologetic than not about the phone situation, sheepishly making a truce with the seer before they make their way downstairs. She manages to hide her own amusement at the sound of the heavy steps creaking behind her on the staircase.

She regards the beast one last time before they enter the literal wolves’ den. Sees the ears flat to her head and tail wrapped around her leg. It gives her a feeling of undeniable fondness, but still she mourns the girl who was more sure of herself.

She had to remedy this…somehow.

“Chin up, Enid.”

And curiously, it does seem to flip something within her wolf, like a switch. She truly was more obedient in this form, like Wednesday had much to offer in the moment aside from her own bias. Still, its better than the Enid that was battling with her own self esteem and nature.

She’s not at all shocked by the looks of awe upon entering the kitchen. Nor is she any less surprised at the positive reception—Enid had always been worthy of this praise. Its well over do, actually.

Wednesday was preparing for a different battle entirely. Los dos idiotas across the table give her the first point far too easily. Daring to speak out of turn, as if Enid were the only thing they had to be afraid of. Seems she let her beloved fight one too many of her battles.

A shame, but no less satisfying to see Enid shove her brother’s face into the table quicker than even she can draw her knife.

Its Murray Sinclair, normally more reserved, akin to a slobbering mastiff; sat dutifully next to his wife—that ruins her fun. When Enid’s playing with her food, it looks far more appetizing than meal itself.

“Its alright, Enid…theres no threats here, sweetheart. We’re your pack, remember?” Wednesday holds back a snort, along with her own viperine tongue that held a retort on its tip. She wanted so badly to strike with her laundry list of Sinclair pack discretions.

But, she would have her time. She would bide it.

First she had to play the part, for but a moment more. Make sure her wolf eats, has her strength instead of worrying over Wednesday. While its flattering, she didn’t need much enticing to consume fresh blood. Tasted a lot better than whatever stale concoction they used at the Rave’n, thats for sure.

Really, its a way of pack unity, she read. Eating together like this, enjoying the fruits of their successful hunt. While this wasn’t the ‘hunt’ in question, it would at least symbolize that she’s serious. She meets eyes with Esther more than once.

Even worse the shrill elder wolf looked pleased. Smiling at her, enough that her eyes crinkle shut—its somehow one of the more unnerving things she’s witnessed. And that’s unequivocally a feat in and of itself.

Luckily, Enid’s belly is full soon enough along with having regained her human form. It was peculiar, watching the body contort back and fur shed to nothing. Not even remnants on the ground (mentally she notes this for sanctity of their dorm) or hair.

She’s all too willing to offer her cardigan. Enid’s presence alone left her rather warm under collar of her turtleneck.

Otherwise, dinner goes off without a hitch. Rather, without any others. Unfortunate, considering she was quite enjoying herself. Her own family dinners often began with a bout; father loved to polish his weapons at the table. A habit she inherited along with his smitten loyalty to his lover.

She allows Enid to dote over her during the meal. The wolf nudging food with hand and keeping an eye on her intake.

Still, Enid’s eager to rush her from the kitchen, even though she had her fair share of questions. She was hoping to get more of this wolf lore siphoned from the elder Sinclairs. Maybe even access to some texts she’s been trying to acquire but couldn’t due to her human status.

“Oh, Enid!” Esther halts her daughter in place. Wednesday looks curiously between them, Esther grinning innocently. “Your father and I wanted to have a little chat with you before you head up to bed. If you don’t mind?”

Well then. It seems she didn’t have to try that hard at all to get the answers she wanted.

“Uh, can’t it wait til morning?” Enid tries to bargain, even looking to her for a co sign. Wednesday chooses to remain silent, not wanting to out her motives. “Just, it’s Wednesday’s first night in a strange house and she’s probably—“

“I’m quite alright actually, I believe I’ve more than proven I can hold my own here.” Wednesday cuts the wolf off, before she ruins her chance. She approaches Murray with stern eyes, ready to interrogate, “What are the parameters of this discussion?”

She should’ve brought her notebook with her to write this down. Had she left her tape recorder at home? Never mind that, she had near photographic memory anyhow.

Even if Enid didn’t look to keen on the idea of her being present—it’s difficult to displease her wolf, but she justifies it. In the end she would know her beloved even better.

If she had to go through the Sinclair heads to do so, then so be it.

“Actually…I was thinking it would be just me and Enid this time.” Murray offers as a new route opens itself.

That would mean its just her and—

“I suppose I can lead our guest back upstairs then?” Esther offers, likely in consolation of her own pride. She didn’t need to be a wolf to hear that tone at not being included in a conversation.

In a way, she could relate. She crossed her arms and partway hoped Enid would request her presence. But this would suffice for now…

She would get her answers soon enough. No matter the source.

“Hmph, I accept.” Like approaching the center of the piste, she sizes up Esther Sinclair like its the first time. Apparently too much so, even with the way the elder woman looked unbothered.

No, she was still smiling at Wednesday in that way that sent unpleasant chills up her back. And not in a good way.

Actually, eerily and disturbingly enough, it reminded her of the very first time she saw Enid smiling at her like that. Excitement bubbling at the seams at the possibility to get to spend time with her.

It’s nauseating in a different way. Like uncanny valley. Its hard to picture the older woman sharing blood with Enid.

In tandem, despite having become fully human again, Enid herself has that thousand yard gaze again. The beast is still tense under the skin. Wednesday sees those eyes flickering bright, to which she tries to placate her personal intentions.

“You have my word, Enid. There will be no blood.” She swears it and if nothing else, an Addams word was one that counted. Worth its weight in gold, depending on what you’re asking for.

Enid looks to relax, if only a tad. Though she definitely lingers, protective even when her poor head was elsewhere. Wednesday can tell in the way they don’t make eye contact at all, then suddenly she’s rounding the corner with her father.

She sees it then, those pupils locked in on her, biting her lip but trying her best to smile. Wednesday doesn’t stop looking at the doorway for a long moment after she’s gone. When she hears something popped atop the stove, gas burner being turned up.

“We used to have a wood stove growing up, you know,” Esther tells her unprompted. “You children don’t know how easy you have it nowadays. Back in my day we did everything from scratch!”

“Surely you’re not that elderly,” Wednesday replies rather bluntly. “Wolves have a longer life span, but its nothing that egregious.”

The older woman cackles at that, easy going and with an apparent memory attached.

“Our pack hasn’t always been so…this century,” Esther makes a face. “Eventually it became a necessity, but I’m still not the best with the internet and online things.”

She scrunched up her nose, vaguely pulling her own phone from her pocket. Wednesday could share that sentiment, but she’s unsure about the rest.

“You grew up very traditionally then?” Wednesday prompts, thinking back to her books. She had read about some packs that don’t interact with normie society at all. Some wolves in colonies where there is no separation between man and beast.

Esther only hums, swaying in her layered fabrics. She wears a pelt of some sort over her house dress. Likely wool due to the weather.

“For better or worse…” Is all the elder wolf offers, leaning over the stove before she turns attention back towards her. “Enough about me—has my Enid been treating you well? I swear I taught that girl manners before I sent her off.”

Wednesday snorts, not sure where to begin with that. Esther caring so deeply about her relationship with Enid only made sense in theory.

“Enid is…unrelenting. The way the sun rises against my will everyday,” Wednesday explains, nearly faltering at the way Esther looks genuinely interested in what she’s saying. Mainly, because she can’t tell what the older woman thinks. “She is a great companion to have. I’ve been anticipating my formal meeting of you and your kinfolk as well. If not for such late notice I would have supplied the pack with a gift.”

It’s extremely formal, because she otherwise feels need to bite her tongue. For Enid’s sake, of course. Really, any gift would’ve been handed off to her beloved directly to hand out if she saw fit. Not that Esther needed the distinction.

“Oh, no need!” The wolf waves her off, giddy with the thought. “Having an Addams and one so taken with my daughter is gift enough. Truly.”

Wednesday keeps her hands behind her back, observing every crack in the woman’s expression. Searching for ill intentions, but not coming up with much other than haughty social climbing. The woman probably admired her mother of all people, too.

“I’ll have some cold cuts from sent over from Jersey upon my arrival back at my family’s home.” She settled on, remembering Enid’s fondness for a good sandwich. The blonde had called herself something atrocious like a ‘foodie’ before, but she had paid it little attention.

She just liked watching the wolf polish her plate.

“I can’t thank you enough for coming on such short notice to allow us to host your holiday with our Enid,” Esther replies. Her hands dexterous and arranging a tray with tea cups for the impending kettle’s sound. “What do you think of our den, then? I do hope you feel welcomed considering the invitation came from our end.”

“I expressed gratitude to Enid for the invitation, yes.” Wednesday confirms, not faltering when Esther’s face cracks just barely at her subtle slight. She raises her brow next, inquisitive, “So…what of this illustrious hunt I’ve been made aware of? I’d like as many details as possible.”

“Oh, of course! And we’d be happy to loan you any hunting gear you may—“

“No need,” Wednesday waves her off, “I’ve got my own arsenal. I prefer my own weapons, as they’ve been modified to my taste. I came prepared.”

Esther seems to preen even more.

“Been studying up on wolves, have you?” The older woman asks like an accusation. Its not malicious, more so curious, “I’m sure my daughter talked your ear off all about us, hasn’t she? She’s always been a chatty little thing…even with strangers!”

Wednesday wasn’t sure she wanted the real answer to that. Enid talking about her family was as informative for her as it was distressing to the girl herself. But, with Enid she’s never selfish enough to ask for more than the wolf can give.

Not anymore. Not after nearly losing her twice.

“Somewhat. I’d prefer to form my own opinion,” Wednesday corrects in not so many words. “Addams courting isn’t all that different from your kind, from what I’ve researched thus far. Although I’m sure you’re more than willing to fill in any blanks, without making this difficult.”

Esther doesn’t seem to have heard the threat in that. That, or she simply didn’t care.

She squeals her delight at whatever Wednesday said that has her so blindingly happy. A trait apparently passed down to her daughter.

“And here I thought I’d have to be the one to bring it up!” The elder woman becomes chipper, placing the tea kettle on the tray to walk over to the table. “Well, go ahead and sit Miss Addams! I do believe we have much to discuss.”

Wednesday eyes the seat like a trigger. Like she hadn’t already been in one of them, distrusting of the willingness to converse.

When she does finally join Esther, the chair scraps harshly against the ground. She sits like a rock, before crossing her arms and legs.

But of course, the matriarch Sinclair didn’t need incentive to speak.

“Its typical for our kind to mate during the Spring, so a Winter courting would be perfectly on schedule!” The elder wolf preens, sipping her tea and nearly forgetting to swallow in her haste to continue. “When Murray proposed to me, it was a total surprise! I didn’t think he’d ever get the nerve, but he got one of my brothers to help him out…gosh, he was so cute, tail between his legs and bashful! Oh, and the most gorgeous bouquet of moon flowers—“

“I’d likely discuss such matters with Enid, actually,” Wednesday interrupted warily. Truth be told she was getting a tad bit nauseous thinking of walking down the aisle so soon.

Not out of disgust, no…she was…a bit nervous. Her family alone would be a hassle once they’re told.

“Nonsense! Its never too early for a girl to start planning her wedding day,” Esther waves her off. “Better wedding planning than all the boring paperwork when you conjoin the Addams estate with the pack.”

She sounds so satisfied with herself. So much so, it makes Wednesday’s eyes narrow into sharp dagger like stare.

“What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Well, in order to become a proper member of the Sinclair pack—“

“And whats wrong with Enid becoming an Addams?” Wednesday questions defensively. She’s not expecting the visceral, gnawing need to see the name ‘Addams’ in tandem with her roommate’s.

Wednesday Sinclair didn’t fill her with the same affectionately charged wrath.

The elder Sinclair looked back at her with wide eyes. She obviously wasn’t used to people fighting back against her opinions. She likely never even asked Enid’s personal preference.

And her gaze, unblinking and unfolding, it has the elder Sinclair gulping tea down and nervous. She smiles, albeit tightly—seems she’s picked her battle correctly.

“Um—maybe this would be better to discuss at a later date, hm?” Esther replies sheepish and slow, like she’s the one with a wolf hiding beneath the skin.

“Alright then. Let me ask another question,” Wednesday asks with just as much intensity in her interrogation. She places her clasped hands in her lap, “What exactly is your angle?”

Esther places her tea cup down with a funny look.

“Whatever do you mean?”

Wednesday’s eyes are so narrowed they look like tiny slits, zeroed in with only room for her glare to escape.

“Your intentions with Enid,” She supplies context, though it should be obvious. Even if Esther chuckles, trying to keep things light; theres nerves backing it.

She can practically smell it. And she’s not even a wolf.

“You’re asking me about my intentions with my own daughter?” The curly haired woman asks like it’s something foolish to question. At Wednesday’s unblinking and unwaivering silence she begins to falter, “I-I just want her to be happy. Like any mother would.”

She pleads her case but it somehow just makes the seer angrier.

“I am well aware of your previous attitude towards Enid and what you saw as ‘lack’ of aptitude,” Wednesday watches Esther shift uncomfortably in her seat. No longer meeting her eyes as easily, she blows bitter air through her nose. “Now you accept her as your Alpha with open arms. Why?”

She narrows her eyes, not allowing the woman a second to recover. Esther blinks, owlishly and with bite of her lips. Her tea cup sat down with shaking hands as her seat becomes hotter.

“I…” Esther sighs, tired and like she’s at end of her rope. “I’ve always been a people pleaser, you see…I was raised to bring honor to my pack name. The glorious St. James wolves of the California mountain tops. What an heir I turned out to be…”

Wednesday listens, lips tight but ready to interrupt the second she says a word our of place. But, Esther seems earnest if not a bit wistful; Wednesday could see so much of Enid in her in this moment, it feels jarring.

“My own mother, Selene have mercy on her soul—she was much less lenient with me. Much less patient…” The elder wolf scoffs to herself. “The best I could do in her eyes was ensure a pack just as prestigious was mated into our bloodline.”

Wednesday watches her pause and sip some of her tea. Her smile had grown so wary, it wasn’t really there at all anymore.

“Why impose the same unattainable standards on your own children?” She questions, still lacking the ability to understand. She could perhaps, maybe later when she’s alone with her thoughts, begin to empathize.

It was hard to think of Esther Sinclair as anything other than source of her beloved’s trauma. Her dark thoughts and self doubt. The only thing that kept her from causing bodily harm being her promise to Enid.

“Its not that easy,” Esther denies softly. “I never wanted her to feel like she had to be anything more. Or any of my children! I always told myself I was only helping her. Protecting her from the eyes of others. Wolves are very traditional…and they look down on those who don’t follow pack order. I never wanted that for her.”

Wednesday’s jaw works at the puzzle being put together. Stray pieces she couldn’t place fitting in the corners.

She saw an Esther Sinclair, much younger and doting on her parents’ every word. Maybe even just as excitable as her daughter. It’s strange, considering the weepy old croon that sat guilty in inquisition.

She wants so badly to remain cruel to this woman.

“You must think very low of me…don’t you?” Esther answers her mental calamity. Wednesday doesn’t let her apathy shift. The older wolf laughs, humorless and with a nod as if she had said what was truly on her mind. “Its fine—I’ve been a hypocrite, I know that. Trying my damndest to fix it, but I fear sometimes it may be too late…not that that’s any fault of yours.”

And she knows it isn’t. She knows very well. Even in pool of Esther’s years of self pity.

“I’m aware,” Wednesday replies with no kind emotion. “I wouldn’t take it on even if you wanted sympathy. I can’t fathom ever treating family, let alone my beloved being handled so poorly.”

Esther nods, licking her lips with obvious nerves. Hers down, submissive even, like she’s actually contemplating her words. Still, she finds audacity to smile. Its wary, its small and undoubtedly full of self pity.

But…she’s not fighting back. She’s not yelling, she’s not being defensive. She’s actually listening.

“You care about my daughter a lot…don’t you?” Its asked in a low voice, so tender in spite of Wednesday’s harsh words. The seer’s eyes briefly widen, not expecting the question.

Was it even much of one? Wednesday didn’t just do things ‘just because.’ She detested time wasted, which is why her days were often so regimented. She wouldn’t just break routine for any old call. For any person.

Just Enid.

“She saved my life,” Wednesday repeats, because its a given. Because she never tires of the image of such a carnivorous beast. “I am forever indebted to her. However…that is not my only motivation in keeping her around. She’s proven herself to be loyal—to a variable fault, but I don’t believe I could do without…”

She stops herself, because she fears she may say too much. Too early. She wants Enid to hear it first.

And Esther doesn’t seem to mind. The old wolf looks like she already knew. Like she could siphon that much out of a brief glimpse into the seer’s vulnerability.

“Thats all I could ever wish for my pups.”

/

She slept on it.

In the metaphorical sense, she thinks about her conversation with Esther for a lot of the night. Physically and literally, she was with said ‘pup’. Resting vigilantly with Enid snoring at her side.

The wolf had come upstairs with a new bundle of nerves. She had thought talk of the hunt, and her personal preparedness would grant a bit of reprieve. Instead Enid had looked even paler than normal. Though, she supposed her wolf had never been one to stomach these things well.

A pity, truly—only that was half of the truth. Wednesday had sneaking suspicion that it had to do with the incoming trip to the airport the next morning. She turns her head from where she lay next to Enid on her back, observing the sleeping blonde. Her own lips purse as her treacherous fingers urge to brush hair from her finally peaceful face.

Disgusting. She always keeps her hands close to her chest when she sleeps. Never canoodling about like her amorous parents…

But then her fingers continue to twitch and she can practically hear mother in her head telling her to ‘let loose the noose’ constricting her. It felt easier said than done. She was excellent at tying knots.

The bed shifts, as Enid looks to enter her full REM cycle. Mouth slightly agape and limbs loose as a soft growl leaves her lips. Wednesday snorts, using two fingers to pry an eye open; She sees a frantic blue and dilated pupils. Probably dreaming of stalking some poor unsuspecting creature in the woods.

Or a room full of steak and chew toys, Wednesday thinks to herself. And she can’t deter it…her lip quirks up. At least theres no one else there (and awake) to witness it.

“Hmph…foolish pup,” She teases, before releasing and settling back. The blonde such a heavy sleeper, just as she was back in the dorms.

She falls asleep on her back as she always does. If she’s tucked her head into Enid’s neck and allowed the sniffling wolf to wrap an arm around her torso…perhaps you should simply mind your business.

Thing especially.

The cheeky limb was up before the both of them. Had teased Wednesday about the scene he had stumbled upon, before the raven decided maneuver the blankets and push him off to the floor. Thats the only thing that awakes her sleeping beast.

Stretching out with a yawn akin to a wolf’s head tipped back into a howl. Wednesday couldn’t wait to see her in action.

She feels as though she’s anticipating the sibling Sinclair making his appearance more than Enid herself. She’s eager to size the man up and place him in her notes. Decide how to classify him depending on his interactions with his sister.

And new Alpha. Wednesday would take nothing less than respect on Enid’s behalf.

Maybe she plays a tad bit dirty, working her beloved up in the car. Goading her to show her fangs and glowing eyes. The flex of dormant muscles that strain with hands on the steering wheel. Her own manically delighted eyes watch rapt.

“Watch it,” Enid’s tone sent shivers down her back. “My claws get longer than your entire arm now.”

And she’s well aware. Watching Enid demolish her breakfast with ease had taken her own appetite away. Rather, it was hard to focus on feeding herself with such a tantalizing show in front of her. Even now, she’s almost lost the plot. Why was she here again? Other than to be in presence of such a gorgeous monster.

“Now…act like it.” She feels like Frankenstein, having given life to his creation. Short of collar and leash, she doesn’t fear this beast—she wants to be at its side.

Her side. Tucked in as they were before they left that horrid school. Enough that she can feel the itchy fabric of the fluffy pink coat Enid once again dawns. As if she weren’t a walking furnace.

“Fashion isn’t always about wearability…or functionality,” The blonde shrugs when she makes a comment. When they’re finally in park and simply waiting on a text of arrival. “Ugh, I should’ve stopped at Dunkin or something first. I want a matcha now.”

“Allow me to make you a legitimate one when you come to the manor,” Wednesday replies. She could do better with her eyes closed, “Those corporate drones and sniffling, under paid teens they staff couldn’t conceptualize good tea if they were water boarded with it.”

Enid hums, before she decides to turn the car back on. The tone sounding, but no engine as she goes mess with the radio after driving in silence. Its pop music, but its the perfect of amount of grating at such a low volume. Her roommate knew her well.

“I mainly wanted to kill time,” She replies before giving her one of those playful grins Wednesday had grown fond of. “And a couple strawberry frosted donuts with sprinkles.”

The seer feels her teeth ache at the thought. Her look of distaste only fulls the wolf with mirth, the most easy she’s looked all morning.

“One of these days I’ll find a sweet that you like.” Enid says it like a promise, leaning back in the seat. Wednesday snorts, turning her head to look at the blonde in question.

“I already told you I can only stomach licorice. Black specifically,” The seer reminds. Enid makes a noise, as if what she said was blasphemous. Well, more so than usual.

“Bleh! Totally doesn’t count.”

“There is no reason for any singular item to have more than a pinch of sugar.”

“But its dessert!” Enid pouts, childish and as if it would have any sway.

“And when your teeth are rotted to the gums and I’m tempted to intervene—it’ll simply be a root canal.”

Enid pouts, thumbing at her phone but seemingly not with any purpose. Wednesday only wanted to distract her from her anxious thoughts.

Though, she can now admit (at least internally) that those puppy dog attributes are rather cute. It leaves that feeling of cerated knives crawling up her stomach. Or maggots swarming about her core.

Absolutely vexing, parasitic even. She couldn’t be any more enamored if she tried. And yes she’s aware that she sounds exactly like her father.

Wednesday instead shakes her head in hopes of hiding any overtly fond glances. Just as quick as Enid was batting her lashes, she’s stretching her limbs and crossing legs over the steering wheel. The song had changed to something equally as upbeat.

And while Wednesday’s keen to sit in silence with her heart’s desire, she can’t help but wonder.

“What’s the status of your sibling’s arrival?” She questions, watching the wolf flinch at the mention.

Her eyes get that glossy look again, like she’s looking directly through Wednesday. For longer than a handful of seconds to think. She was doing that odd new ritual—that suspiciously silent contemplation that was already bringing the seer concern.

Wednesday was prone to these sort of brooding spells. Her inner monologue was vast as it was (as the title states) her own and only hers. Enid didn’t do deep thinking on anything other than those insipid boybands she fawns over. And its not that Wednesday thinks anything of her intelligence, the wolf was terribly clever actually; she’s just never been an internal person.

Everything Enid did was loud, colorful and unashamed. Its why she thought the girl so strange for so long. She still does, just much more endearingly.

“Enid?” She prompts again, even snapping fingers when she gets not much other than a half way there hum of confirmation.

“Um—Baggage claim currently, so who knows,” She’s quick to turn her phone off and stick it in the cup holder. She blinks a few times, like clearing her sight then, “I’d offer to carry their bags but I kind of want these last few minutes to calm down…. You being here helps a lot. You have no idea.”

When Enid looks at her this time its with clearer eyes; directly into her own and with so much admiration it makes her ill. With gooey, sticky feelings that ooze from her pores, like the blonde was a disease. She could only hope to never find a cure.

And they trade brief stories in the car. Things they missed over the phone or stuff that was deemed ‘way too juicy’ to say through text. She doesn’t know how to bring up the glaring issue of the gorgon that was likely still a factor. Even if Enid didn’t mention him directly, it was always implied. Like she’s dancing around the fact that they both know.

“I’ll probably have to call him tonight,” She says it like its a chore, then seems to catch herself. “I mean I should, cause its…been a while. I just hope he understands.”

As to what, she’s not entirely sure. She partially dreads asking due to her own selfish wants and whims.

“He’d be a fool to lose your affections over a few missed texts.” Wednesday replies, hands in her lap and eyes boring into the side of Enid’s head. The wolf isn’t looking, but she sees the sharp inhale and rise of shoulders.

“Yeah…” Enid trails, biting her thumb and suddenly more occupied by her phone screen. Like she’s searching for something, “Think we can head inside now to meet Charlie.”

Wednesday nods, not particularly satisfied with the lack of answer. Or the way the wolf all too quickly jumps from the car to avoid it altogether.

Chapter Text

Enid felt bad, being so cut and dry with Wednesday’s very innocent prodding about her boyfriend. She technically wasn’t wrong for asking about him, or how things have been. She had every right and if this were a month or so ago, she would even be excited to talk about the boy on her mind. Nowadays, the wolf inside growled so loud over her rational thoughts, its hard to give a proper answer, let alone coming up with a lie.

Its Enid who doesn’t know how to broach the subject.

(Tell her he is weak. He is nothing to us. She is everything.)

Yeah. easier said than done…

She hasn’t talked to Ajax in days. Eerily correlating with Wednesday accepting her invitation to visit.

She had even resorted to muting him, when the guilt had her stomach bubbling. The sight of the blue dot across from a silenced bell icon every time she looks in her messages still lingered in her peripheral. Even if she tries pinning other texts or just leaving her phone in her pocket. And she knows its a million times more suspicious, when any other time she can’t go for longer than a few hours without peaking at her socials alone.

She played with the idea of taking him off her close friends, but that was making her feel even more ill.

Wednesday doesn’t press it, but somehow thats even worse. The silence and nagging feeling of those dark eyes analyzing her, has her tail metaphorically between her legs.

(She is upset. You upset her you fool! Turn around and do something!)

And what is she supposed to do to assuage both her and Wednesday’s feelings right now, exactly?

“You’re walking rather fast,” The seer comments, in spite of keeping pace. “I’m assuming you know where you’re going?”

It doesn’t sound upset necessarily, but she’s also avoiding turning to her side to face her and check.

“He said they’re waiting at the entrance they just didn’t know where we parked,” Enid replies without a beat. A whole other can of junk to sort out sooner than she has time for. She chews her lip as they get closer through the parking lot. “And I know you’re really adamant about proving yourself to my pack, but can you maybe…not be so…”

She makes a convoluted gesture that has Wednesday’s brow raising.

“Are you implying I’d cause you more trouble than I’m worth?” Wednesday scoffs like that would be something far fetched to assume of her. “I left your mother be, did I not?”

Honestly she’s not one hundred percent sold on that, because of the weird energy between the two of them in the kitchen that morning.

Like…really, really weird. Wednesday didn’t even glare when Esther greeted them.

Her mom had had already known how Wednesday took her tea and the seer had genuinely nodded in what looked like thanks (she’s half a mind to get her ears and eyes checked) in receiving it. Enid almost popped a blood vessel with how hard she was staring.

(The moon and Selene herself has willed it! Our elders have accepted the bond. Just as you should have by now, foolish girl.)

She’s not not accepting it, she’s…simply taking her time. Considering she still has a list of other things that require attention, like oh—maybe, her boyfriend? The one she’s been ghosting to wrestle her latent gay thoughts until she crashes for bed? The same bed she’s sharing with the source of her current dilemma.

Can she at least get her brother back to house without her wolf being on her back?

(If you would stop denying the inevitable I would have no need to speak, girl.)

Enid internally prickles at the way the wolf talks about her and her feelings as if it would know any better than she. She decides to just roll her eyes and glare at herself under guise of opening her front camera to fix her hair.

“True, but my brothers are even more abrasive,” Enid explains rather reveal her suspicions. “Charlie’s gotten better, I will say, but thats entirely because of Venus—thats his fiancee. They’ve been together for like 3 years or so now? Omg, wait…its really been a while.”

Charlie moved down South after his time spent East at Nevermore. He met his mate not too long into his freshman year of college; you could almost call it story book. A hell of a lot easier than her personal love life, on top of the fact that her mother was preening over the upcoming pack merge.

“Another wolf I’m assuming?” Wednesday inquired next.

“Yup! Venus is from Florida, though. Thats why I don’t get to see Charlie as much anymore, cause he’s down south wrestling alligators and in a whole different time zone unless I’m at school.” Its easier to blame those things for distance. Its not like they were necessarily close growing up, with Enid being much younger than him at a certain point. Wednesday hums along, hands clasped in front of her.

“Is it more common for your kind to mate so young?” A curious question to come from someone like Wednesday.

“Didn’t your parents meet in highschool?” Enid replies with a question that should answer that well enough. She gives her roommate a funny look.

“They’re a special case,” The seer dismisses. “I hadn’t ever had the desire to be tied down at all, really…rather, I didn’t believe anyone would be able to. And I’d no need for it to begin with.”

It’s open ended. Far too open ended for the feral monster in her brain that wanted so, so badly to chase.

“I’m sensing a ‘but’ somewhere in there…” Enid prompts, hands behind her back. She works her jaw before speaking, because she doesn’t want to get her hopes up. “What, uh…what changed? If you don’t mind my asking.”

It shouldn’t get her hopes up.

The way Wednesday quirks a brow up at her, that twisted little smirk on her face that gave way when she was being a tease. Enid felt her heart hammering as if they’d been running full speed this whole time.

“Hasn’t stopped you before, has it?” Wednesday quips on her normally more invasive nature when it came to things like romance.

Except, that was before it involved ancient wolf customs and fated meetings.

“Hey! Enid, we’re over here!” Her ears prick up at a distant calling of her name.

She purses her lips when she him; curly ginger hair buzzed close at the sides, with a cap on his head. She wants to tease him about the mullet, but finds her words catch in her throat when those familiar eyes fund her own. And the bushy mustache that he’d been sporting for the past handful of year. He smiles thankfully, after the initial look of confirmation that its truly Enid he sees.

Its been a year at least, since he had spent the holidays with Venus’s family last year.

Speaking of, the darker skinned wolf waves at her and approaches at a more leisurely pace. She looks to be amused at the way Charlie barrels towards her. Enid could say the same, her inner wolf wagging her tail at the familial scent and incoming affection. Instinct didn’t always recognize things like pat conflicts or feelings.

(We would know that smell anywhere. Our pack.)

Her wolf would always see him as family.

“What the hell is up, pup?” He drops their bags and lifts her into a bear hug. He spins with her, before pretending she’s heavy and letting her down with a sigh. “Damn, you’ve gotten big—puppy isn’t cutting it anymore, is it, runt?”

Enid’s about to show him who the runt is, but she hears a noise of displeasure. 

“You won’t be saying ‘runt’ when you see her under the moon,” Wednesday’s voice interrupts their moment. She’s cold in the way she addresses her brother, but Enid knows she’s just being protective.

Considering how the twins used to pretend they weren’t even related up until last semester…it wasn’t necessarily unwarranted.

Charlie didn’t have the same mental dictionary of Wednesday-isms and all her quirks, however. He also hadn’t been privy to much of her life as of recently, though thats partially her own fault. She takes the seer by the arm to whisper in her ear.

“He’s just joking! They only call me that cause I’m the youngest,” Enid tries to assure her friend. She can see the same murder in her eyes that the twins get when they tease her. She even chances a smile, indicating her wellbeing, “Honest…Char is different than the twins. So, no wolfsbane threats this time!”

“Uh—Wolfsbane?” Charlie repeats, looking to his fiancee and thankfully more confused than concerned.

“No need to explain, because we don’t have to worry about it!” Enid tries to save face, holding the seer’s hand in hers and willing her friend to not make this worse. “Why don’t we show you where we parked, I’m sure you two are tired, jet lagged and hungry so why wait around here? Ahaha…”

She’s speaking so fast, she almost doesn’t get it all out before she’s pulling Wednesday and whatever bags where in arms reach along, like dead weight. The laugh is off kilter and her voice cracks, but she was no longer fooling herself into thinking she would be able to keep her dignity in tact at this point.

Her brother and his fiancee follow with strange looks, after exchanging one of their own. Enid just hopes to Selene and the Moon above that the air of confusion and cloak of ignorance can last a little while longer.

/

“So…been a minute, huh?”

Enid almost doesn’t hear it. Its quiet, aside from her brother mentioning anecdotes to his fiancee in the back seat. Moon knows why, but Charlie had sat up front with her and left Venus in the back with a eerily cordial Wednesday. She’s been craning her head and twitching her ears in an attempt to hear the conversation the two were currently having.

Venus was leaned over slightly, making hand gestures as her friend watched in what looked like vague interest. She couldn’t help but peak in the rearview, until it sinks in she’s being stared at.

“Uh, yeah—sorry, I know I kinda ghosted you there for a minute. Class has been crazy,” Enid apologized, sheepish and thumb rubbing the wheel. “How have things been? Surprised you’re here before Leo.”

Charlie laughs at her quip, knowing himself to be notoriously late. He used to get written up for simply day dreaming and nearly missing class.

“Class has been crazy?” The boy repeats incredulously. “Mom hasn’t shut up about how you saved the whole campus from a Hyde—I didn’t even know those things still existed!”

Enid feels her hands tensing atop the wheel at that. Its seldom she’s hearing about herself from another wolf’s personal and it’s anything good. Or it had been for so long that it feels weird against her skin. It travels through her sensitive ears and down her spine until she’s stiff as a board.

“I mean it wasn’t just me…” She tries to downplay it. Her eyes flit to Wednesday, who looks at her with a silent question. Enid clears her throat, “I only did what I could. Really, Wednesday here did all the hard work.”

She knows her friend detested being championed in such a way; as much as she wanted to be proven right in her investigation. It was never about being viewed as a ‘hero.’ Still, Enid couldn’t help but view the seer as one of the bravest people she’d ever met.

(Our mate is strong. We chose very well.)

Enid finds herself smiling, rather dopily at the seer who gives her an expression of distaste. While she hated the compliments, she wasn’t going to pass up the stroke to her ego.

“Addams, right?” Charlie asks next. He turns his whole body to look at Wednesday in the back seat. “I’ve heard you two are living together?”

Theres suggestion in his tone that she prays goes over Wednesday’s socially dense head.

“You would be correct,” The seer replies curtly. Nothing about it rings any alarm bells in Enid’s head and she feels in the clear up until her Venus starts talking.

“Oh! You already nesting together?” Her brother’s mate asks with a surprised, but genuine smile.

Oh no. Oh no, no, no—

“I think they’re just bunking together for now, hon,” Charlie denies for her. He smirks at her good natured, but there’s a look in his eye that makes her feel like he’s put something together.

(Correct them at once! Tell them we are courting!)

Enid chews on her lip like gum for her nerves, extremely happy for her friend’s ignorance on wolf customs. She gives a light hearted but heavy handed punch to her brother’s shoulder.

“You’re one to talk, huh?” She tries to joke and change the subject as smoothly as she can. “You got engaged before you got a degree!”

That gets a snort from Venus in the back and Charlie takes his cap off like the fact flustered him.

“V keeps me on an actual schedule. I’d probably be flunking out without her,” He admits. He uses his thumb to point to the girl in the back that looks briefly confused at the attention. Charlie grins as he explains, “I was just telling Enid how you’re the only reason I’ve been on time to literally everything I do.”

“Yeah, I don’t know how the hell you were living before we started dating. If not for your wolf, you’d probably miss the Moon too,” She joked. Charlie just chuckles to himself, smitten even at his own expense.

“Lets just hope I can keep it up for the wedding stuff,” Her brother teased.

Enid feels some of the tension lift off her shoulders watching them banter.

“And speaking of our wolves…” Charlie segued suddenly. He shoves his sister playfully, “What about you? I still can’t get over it either…can’t call you runt anymore now, can I?”

The attention on her again so quickly nearly makes her swivel.

“Ah, I mean its nothing really…its only been a handful of weeks—“

“Why so humble, sis? Mom’s been using the Bay‘s community board Facebook group for a live updates account.” Charlie teases, in that way she’s heard from him before.

In the not so far away past, when their mom would do the same thing to the rest of her brothers. When she would purposefully avoid posting Enid, under guise of not wanting people to ‘say anything’ when accompanying pictures of her wolf didn’t follow. After family hunts, when she’d tag and name all the boys and their kill. Congratulations on birthdays and graduations to flex on the other sires in their area.

Enid had never been someone to show off…thats why she always made herself someone to look at. Someone you stop and pay attention to.

(They know better now. Our pack is a strong one…we make them strong.)

She swallows, heavy like she’d taken invisible poison that curdled and bubbled in her stomach. Still, she smiles; turns to her brother and does her best not to look pained. She’s had years of practice.

“Of course she has…” She sounds more playful than bitter or confused. Its all she feels she can be at the moment.

Like unconsciously searching for them, like a life line. She finds herself peaking in the rear view again.

Wednesday’s looking directly at her. Her eyes have always had that uncanny ability to speak where she couldn’t. And Enid had made herself fluent enough to find brief solace; enough to get them home without careening off the highway.

/

Enid falls back on her bed with a deep breath out. Her eyes close and she runs tired hands down her face. She’s been slacking on her make up and the looks she had planned; opting to leave the house in just a bit of gloss. Her nerves on such high ends she was afraid she’d sweat her highlighter off.

(Where is she?)

Enid’s fingers go to her temples, softly groaning in annoyance. They share a brain and yet the wolf can’t comprehend that even Wednesday needs a bathroom break. The seer had obviously needed a moment after lugging her out so early and interacting with her family and soon to be in-law.

(We should be leading the introduction into the pack. She is distressed because you are refusing tradition!)

Tradition can suck it. Honestly. Its making her head throb and cutting into her skincare routine.

Not to mention her personal relationships that she had garnered by herself and without the help of her wolf. Her wolf hadn’t even been there for the more tumultuous parts of her life, or in knowing Wednesday.

(You don’t truly believe that, do you foolish child?)

Was it so hard to believe? Its not like her wolf was doing her any favors until it quite literally had no choice. Either wolf out, or the vessel you’re inhabiting dies along with the beast inside.

Wednesday would’ve died.

The very thought has a sinking feeling. As if it could bring her down to the hell her friend likely would’ve embraced had the Hyde gotten its way. She feels it from her toes, her hind paws to her gums; they ache with fangs that threaten to pierce through the very imagery of threat.

“Enid?” Wednesday calls, standing in her doorway. “You awake?”

Her senses were so overwhelmed by the thought of something taking the seer. She hadn’t noticed the girl was mere feet away, Thing perched on her shoulder.

Enid hums to indicate her being awake—wide awake, actually. She sits up with a huff, leaning back on her hands.

“I’m up…just thinking,” She murmured.

“You’ve been doing a lot of that,” Wednesday counters. “Must I truly beg you of all people to speak?”

“Charlie’s only the tip of the iceberg,” Its always much easier to segue to familial issues. Albeit its no less confusing and mentally conflicting. Enid pouts, “Leo’s driving so he could get here anytime really. We talk even less. Who knows—the only reason I know Charlie got engaged is cause mom told me.”

She reveals, to which Wednesday inhales.

“I knew I should’ve sprayed the front seat…” She says wistfully, but Enid can’t find it in her to laugh. Although she’s not entirely sold on that having been a joke.

“Thats how its always been. First I was just ‘too young to be in pack business’, then it became a thing about me not even being a ‘real wolf’.” She rants with a roll of her eyes. Always being kept out of the loop even after puberty hit. “When they got engaged there was a big hunt—kinda like the one we’re gonna have when Leo gets here. Its to—“

“Show the pack can provide for its mate, along with strengthening the bond between the rest of its members.” Wednesday recites like she’d read it from a text book.

Enid has a moment of pause, not expecting her friend to be versed in any of her customs; at least not anything that Enid herself hadn’t told her. Wednesday had always pulled the funniest faces when they passed by groups of furs. Had claimed she couldn’t stand the ‘wet dog smell.’ Of course she denied Enid having any particular bad scent.

“You spend enough time getting ready in the morning. You aught to smell decent,” The seer had quipped to her before.

(As our mate, of course she is attracted to our scent.)

“So, you’ve been studying up on werewolves, eh?” Enid prods, while trying to cloak her wolf’s mental prodding. And the fear that Wednesday might catch on to what her visitation meant to her parents—mainly her mother.

“I wanted to be prepared,” The seer doesn’t miss a beat. “A pack invitation is deemed very important by your kind—thats what you said on the phone, was it not?”

Which isn’t totally far fetched. Wednesday lived to be prepared and would never go into a literal wolf’s den without studying up on something. The crazy amount of wolfsbane was probably only the tip of the iceberg.

“Right! Totally, yeah…” Enid lets go a breath of relief that she disguised as a laugh.

As if she’s just being silly and not praying to the Moon that Wednesday doesn’t know just how important it truly is. And how its not just something you hand out to friends like follow requests. But Wednesday wouldn’t even think to look at werewolf courtships; she’s the most anti-love person she knows…right?

(Seems our human is more educated on our customs than you. Selene has chosen well…perhaps you could learn something from her.) 

Ok, that was just uncalled for…

Wednesday doesn’t even know that the wolf in her head exists. Rather, she has no idea that the beast was speaking to her. ‘Guiding’ her, as her parents claimed it was supposed to be doing. Let alone any of the fated pairing, will-of-the-Moon lore she’s still learning herself.

And she sure as hell isn’t getting into any of it right now.

(You cannot hide me forever. Our mate is a clever one. Do you not think she already suspects?) 

“I haven’t even gotten to really show you around yet…” Enid mentions next, pushing her wolf further to the back of her mind. Its not like it used to have much problem wasting time there. “Theres a cafe—a real one, not just Starbucks—that’s totally pretentious enough for your taste. They have a free library out front and everything!”

Wednesday had opted to sit at her desk while Thing leafed through her stacks of magazines. The seer had been otherwise observing her—akin to how she’d often wake up; those dead eyes above her and watching. She used to be much more unnerved by the seer’s attention.

In hindsight, it only showed how deeply she cared. In her own Wednesday kind of way. It made her belly flutter, in lieu of her wolf’s huff of affirmation.

“Perhaps,” Wednesday replies. Her hands sat in her lap, resting atop her black jeans. “I’ve heard Alcatraz looks particularly haunting during the holiday season as well.”

Enid’s smile turns a bit uncertain at mention of the one tourist attraction (if you could really call it that) that she tended to avoid. Actively.

“Of course you visit the literal sunshine state and wanna tour a prison…”

“Really its more of a personal venture,” Wednesday corrects with uptick of her lips. Thats never good. “I’ve various relatives that had extensive stints there back in the day.”

Enid puffs out amused air at that. She didn’t formally get the meet any of Wednesday’s extended family, (although after her alleged ‘uncle’ had visited, their room held a particularly acrid scent that had her scrunching her face for most of the evening) but she knew them to enjoy such dangerous places.

“Honestly, at this point…I’d rather tour the dumpsters at the park.” Enid jokes, albeit with not much humor in her tone. She almost sounds defeated, actually.

Now was a matter of getting out of the house. Her parents would be distracted by Charlie and Venus, but they weren’t gonna just let her walk out unannounced. 

“I’m assuming you don’t wish to escape out the window?” Wednesday quips back, but Enid doesn’t think she’s joking either. Especially if she remembers her friend’s first therapy session recap correctly.

“It does sound tempting…” Enid mulls the idea over more than she probably should. “But, I should probably tell everyone we’re leaving the house.”

She swings her legs off the bed and stretches her limbs. She’d have to change into something else first, as the temperature had risen with the sun. Maybe they could fit a shopping center (or two) into their trip as well. Retail therapy sounded too good to be true right about now.

“Scared they’ll tighten your leash?” Wednesday asks with genuine pause for an answer. Enid knows the seer didn’t mean anything by it—her care didn’t often come in the most sensitive ways.

“More like they’ll rope me into bringing my brothers,” She scoffs.

“More of this pack initiation protocol?” Wednesday questions.

Enid shakes her head with roll of her eyes. This was one thing she didn’t have to stretch the truth about in regards to her initial invitation.

“Nah, she just likes to kick all of us out if one of us is leaving,” She pouts. It used to be a matter of ‘bring your sister with you.’ Or ‘take your brothers just in case! Its dangerous out there!’ Because she couldn’t wolf out yet. As if the twins would’ve had her back pre-Hyde.

They used to act like they didn’t even know her when the teasing at school got bad. And Enid’s never not been popular to some extent. Although never for her wolf (not for good reason at least) she made herself a spectacle for the masses. She used her words, her writing on her blog, her fashion and looks.

It took a long time to be at peace with that.

Walking out with her beret tilted atop her head and Wednesday at her side as her perfect foil and contrast—it helps. Its so grounding she could almost cry, but instead she squeals in excitement.

“You can’t yip everytime I enter a room and be upset when I compare you to a puppy.” Wednesday quips as they enter the quiet hallway upstairs.

“Its not ‘just me’, Wednesday, it’s literally offensive—can you not say that around the others, please?” Enid chides her guest once again. Thankfully everyone was probably in the kitchen.

Her mom loved to tell them how thin and sickly they look after being away.

They make it downstairs with minimal species-ist remarks and Enid contemplates dipping out entirely. Unfortunately she makes eyes with her brother leaning back in a kitchen chair from where she stood in the foyer. The spaciousness of the home both great for raising growing werewolves, but a pain for privacy’s sake.

“Hey, I was wondering where you went off to!” Charlie smiles at her, obviously wanting her to come say hey if she’s not still freaking out in her room.

Its with a stiff smile and eyes met with Wednesday’s unreadable expression that she shuffles down the hall to the kitchen. She’s got her hands in her vest pockets, opting for that over her sweater since she didn’t get as cold anymore.

Her father sits at the other end of the table. The twins are absent, but probably not far. Enid noticed their sneakers were still by the door.

“Going somewhere, pup?” Her father questioned, eyeing her and Wednesday up and down. The boots they both had on a dead give away if not the layers.

Wednesday had a thick leather jacket on top of a turtleneck. Gloves were on her hands as well, held in front of her as she stood patiently.

“Uh—Wednesday got a craving for sweets so we were gonna grab something and come back.” Enid watches that patience visibly starts to wear thin.

“How thoughtful of you,” Murray gives her a knowing smile.

Oh gosh—he thinks its a date, doesn’t he?

“You should take her to that little, coffee place you go up the street!” Her mother finally turns from the stove where she looked to be slow cooking something. Abandoning her task for the opportunity to further embarrass her; Esther beams, “They have a lovely outside area and community garden. Perfect for two, by the way.”

She sings the last bit with suggestion that has her twitching to leave.

“Great idea, mom! Why don’t we leave right now so we still have day light?” She’s yanking an eerily quiet Wednesday out of the kitchen when her dad yells.

“Don’t forget to bring some sweets back for the pack!”

“Sure thing!” She’s practically carrying Wednesday outside when the glare starts to genuinely burn into the side of her head. “Oh, don’t look at me like that!”

They pause by the car, the smaller girl crossing her arms.

“The only ‘sweet thing’ I’ve a craving for at the moment is your head,” Wednesday ‘threatens.’ Her bluffs never actually scared Enid (for the most part), but that was far from normal.

It makes her blink, lips pursing as her brain catches up to the important part.

“Aw, are you calling me sweet?” She can’t help but start cheesing.

“I’d sooner say delusional, but whatever floats your boat.” Wednesday rolls her eyes, a tinge of color to her cheeks that she wants to believe isn’t just from the cold weather.

Enid’s hands clasp together, because she just can’t help it when Wednesday’s being soft. She definitely can’t touch her—not right now. For multiple reasons and only one of which was her infamous boundary on physical contact.

There was still Ajax.

(Weakling boy. Pathetic snake.)

Ugh. And that—the catalyst of this whole mess.

The whole reason her life was in a turmoil at the moment. She wished she could blog about this and get someone else’s opinion; Yoko’s words rang in her head like a bell tolling.

“Its ok to do things you want sometimes.“

If only what she wanted didn’t mean jeopardizing so many other people’s happiness. She unconsciously unlocks the car, Wednesday watching her carefully. They sit for a moment at the edge of the driveway, those dark eyes only leaving her to look back in the rearview with her.

“Looks like you forgot something,” The seer mumbles. She nods towards the house, where Charlie is sprinting down the driveway. He runs up to Enid’s side, waiting for the window to roll down.

“Wait, Enid!—can we come with?” He asks, barely out of breath but thrumming with anticipation of her answer. 

“Come…with?” Enid questions slowly, not quite understanding why her brother wants to leave after a cross country flight. Usually she had to crash for a few hours upon making it back to Vermont for school.

But, Charlie grins at her regardless. He adjusts his hat on his head and explains.

“Venus didn’t get to look around much last time cause we were handling engagement stuff. Plus we can keep catching up!” He places a hand on her shoulder to jostle her through the window. Then, short of putting her in a headlock, he whispers sneakily, “It’ll be like a little double date.”

When he releases her, he looks so self satisfied, she wants to scream. Of course, after all the years of ignoring her, now Charlie wants to pull the whole ‘big brother’ act. His eyes were focusing in on Wednesday in a way that had her growing even more nervous.

Like he wants to figure her out, or worse—get to know her.

“Double date…right…” Enid feels her voice lifting towards the end. 

Charlie looks none the wiser as he pats the car door. “Let me go tell V to hurry up in the bathroom—we’ll be right down, I promise we won’t delay your plans too much!”

He winks at her before he runs back inside to collect and herd his fiancee. All the while, Enid slowly turns to the passenger seat to give Wednesday a pained smile.

Well…there goes their girl’s trip. 

Chapter Text

The car ride was thankfully the easiest part about their destination.

The hardest part, of course was parking in a city, (she may, or may not have traded a few growls with an older outcast woman in a Prius) but they make it safely otherwise. They park a little ways from the coffee shop, but it gives a little leeway to walk and talk.

Which meant her and Charlie yapping while the other two followed behind. It was funny kinda, the way they mirrored each other with their choices so to speak. While she’s accepting the fact that Wednesday may very well be her one and only, it was still, also, very fresh. 

(Had you listened to reason sooner, perhaps we would given her a token of our devotion by now.)

Another thing Enid hadn’t been thinking about in her fight to balance her life out. Once upon a time she had been working on a pin to give Ajax to symbolize her love. Its a wolf thing—like hunting trophies, gift giving was one of many different love languages for her kind. 

It had only been in its beginning stages at the time. A concept, because for some odd reason she couldn’t settle on the right stone that fit them. She would have to start fresh for Wednesday…

”Thinking hard over there,” Charlie interrupts her thoughts. “Don’t work those two braincells too hard now—you still need to drive us back.”

Her brother was a leisurely walker, hanging behind and bantering with her for a lot of it.

”Act like I don’t have a better gpa right now than you did your whole time in school, then.”

She can’t help but keep her eyes on Wednesday. While Charlie huffs good natured and leaves it be.

Even if she knew that Venus was good people and that she promised to behave herself around her family. It was an innate thing, like an itch that had to be scratched, or she’d hear her wolf whining like a baby.

(You’re the one behaving like a child and denying our mate, girl.)

Enid’s almost happy that the Covid guidelines still make it so that only a few of them could enter at once. When they get to the cafe theres already a handful of people inside.

“I can grab your order for you bb,” Venus winks at Charlie. Wednesday regards her with a stare, already walking towards where the other wolf had gone.

“I’d prefer to order my own drink. I can procure something entirely too sweet for you as well?” She prompts, to which Enid nods eagerly.

Mentally, her wolf’s tail is thumping at the girl wanting to ‘provide’ for them. 

“Aw, I thought you said you’d never be caught dead buying my drink?” Enid smiles at her with hands behind her back. She secretly delights in how Wednesday flusters for exactly one second.

“That is only because there is enough sugar in what you get to shock my heart back into functioning, should something hopefully dire occur.” The seer snarks back. That gets a good laugh out of Charlie as well, the two of them watching as Venus holds the door for the both of them.

Her brother has decency to wait for the door to chime shut before he smacks her on the back.

“Damn, she’s got you whipped already—how long you been together, again?” Charlie manages to ask between laughing at her expense.

(We are unfortunately stuck in the courting stage, as the foolish vessel I rest in refuses to make a move.)

“We’re not dating,” Enid corrects, more aggressively than she means to. Her wolf was making this all the more difficult to explain.

“C’mon, stop fucking with me, you literally live together already.” Charlie laughs and smacks her arm playfully.

(One would think it could be so simple.)

Enid can’t help but scoff at both things.

“Because we’re dorm mates, maybe?” She retorts incredulously. “Were you blowing Nick when you lived together?”

Charlie pulls a disgusted face at the thought or implication of that.

“Oh, hell no, he did not wash his balls…or his sheets!” Her brother gagged on air and at her open mouthed stare he elaborates, “He told me before. He’s into that ‘pheromone maxing’ shit—like that was the barrier between him and getting laid.”

Charlie shakes his head and grins at his own dig. Enid just needs this conversation to get back on track before the baristas finish their drinks and the girls come back outside.

“Regardless—we’re not dating. At least not yet, cause…I do sorta, kinda think I want to? For real,” Enid’s confidence in her words grows as they spill from her mouth. It feels like a weight lifted to say it out loud; simultaneously she feels her heart leaping out of her chest. “I just haven’t said anything yet cause I don’t wanna ruin things between us with everything else going on.”

Its like her mother had planned her demise. Under guise of wanting to ‘thank’ the Addams family—next time, she’s proposing a card. Or maybe some nice flowers…

“Wait, so…” Charlie lifts his hat to scratch his head and purse his lips. “You’re telling me you’re down this bad and you’re not even dating this girl yet?”

“That’s not the point!” Enid however makes one very explicitly in form of knocking the hat out of his hands. “Ugh, I don’t know why I didn’t ask Venus instead, honestly.”

She pinches bridge of her nose between her fingers while Charlie sheepishly wipes dirt from his hat.

“I’m just fucking with you, its like my job or whatever.” Charlie wraps an arm around her in a way that feels like a borderline headlock. “Remember that boy from grade school that kept pulling your little hair thingys out?”

She did. Very well in fact.

Back when they were a lot younger, whenever they’d go to the park there tended to be a lot of repeat suspects. Herself and her brothers being a couple of them; another boy named Clark one of the others. He would mess with Enid all the time, spill water on drawings or steal her crayons.

He loved to pull out her hair pins and barrettes. He’d take them and hide them, knowing she loved to express herself in that way.

And that’d she’d have to talk to him to some capacity to get them back.

“He probably just has a crush on you,” Her mother had said with a supportive smile.

Like that made it any better that she was being bullied.

Charlie heard as well, loud and clear. Him and Leo didn’t like the idea of an outsider messing with their ‘runt’ of a sister.

“You gave him a black eye and Leo stole his Pokémon cards,” Enid recounts fondly. A simpler time.

Much, much simpler.

“I’d do it again too!” Charlie reiterates, only to cringe. “Well, I don’t really wanna fight a girl…but I can tell Venus to!”

He jokes and Enid rolls her eyes at the thought. Wednesday would happily fend off a werewolf, actually. Doing it for the sake of honor would probably add fuel to her damn near suicidal fire.

(We would place ourselves in the line of fire. She is ours to protect—an extension of our very life force!)

Enid could agree to an extent, but the surge of aggression that doesn’t entirely feel like her own was uncalled for. She swallows down a growl, looking up at her brother with tired eyes.

“And semi unrelated, but how did you get your wolf to quit it with the inner monologue?” She whines, hands going to her temples. “She’s been non stop ever since I wolfed out and its making me wanna die and take us both out.”

(Foolish girl, without me you would still be pining over that greasy snake)

Who has done nothing wrong, mind you. Its not his fault he agreed to date a someone with dormant lore beyond their control.

“Ah—I’m probably not the best person to ask, honestly. My wolf is honestly, a really chill sorta guy. We have a pretty good understanding with most things,” Charlie admits. Then more thoughtfully, “Dad said sometimes you’re just ‘in sync’ naturally.”

He hadn’t been so blase in explaining it recently, but that was also after dealing with her newfound ability. And her in-ability to control a lot of it.

“So its just eff me then, huh?” Enid sighs in frustration.

“It’s probably just because you’re a late bloomer—nothing wrong with that by the way,” Charlie assures her. Enid feels momentarily surprised to hear it. “I just think your wolf is making up for lost time by being extra…extra.”

(He’s one to talk. I still remember when he was scratching up furniture.)

Enid makes a face at the implication that her wolf held her memories the same. It makes sense, however its not helpful to hear when she lay dormant simultaneously. Allowed her years of confusion and ridicule from her family and peers.

(If you don’t listen to me now, what makes you believe you would have been ready back then, girl?)

“I know my wolf means well and all, its just really getting to me when she’s nitpicking every little thing!” Enid explains with a frown. The words from the beast ring in her head like feedback. “She knew about my feelings for Wednesday, before I did—and she sure didn’t stop making my life hell until I listened.”

(For your own good, silly girl. Your denial of the inevitable is more irritating than I…)

Enid actively growls at the dismissive statement from her wolf. Charlie looks properly fearful, tilting his head with wide eyes at the display and pulling a face.

“Jesus Christ, E, a little decorum in public? You just shot your angry smell right at me,” He wipes at his nose. Its akin to when she was in the car with her dad.

“Sorry, she’s just pissing me off—bad,” Enid narrows her eyes at nothing. Because, unfortunately, she couldn’t exactly pull the beast out of her ear and scold it.

Really, she needed a mental spray bottle.

“Hey, it’ll get easier,” Her brother tries to cheer her up. “Leo kinda had your issue, being the OG Alpha and all. He used to talk to himself and pull these goofy ass faces, like—“

Charlie does an impression of their eldest brother’s thinking face. Only to burst out laughing afterwards and shake his head.

“Really? I never knew…” Enid trails, not wanting to unintentionally trigger herself in another way.

How could she know, when they kept her in the dark with so much of their customs?

Her general ignorance born out of her incompetence for so many years. She was so behind it made her want to scream—her fear of being a lone wolf felt so small and insignificant nowadays in comparison. She didn’t even know how to address the beast inside most of the time.

It was always in frustration—anger. Primal emotions like hunger, or need.

“Yeah, but like everyone comes into their own in different ways. Like remember the twins technically didn’t wolf out the same year, either?” He recalls the year difference in birthday transformations and waits for Enid to nod. “Shit takes time or whatever. I know it didn’t always look like it, but I did in fact, pay attention in those moon phase studying lectures. Its relative, push and pull…gravity—all of that.”

He pats her on the back like its supposed to solve the brunt of her issue. And it does; more than she’s ever gonna admit. Still, she bobs her head in understanding.

“You’re probably right…” Enid admits, before pulling a face. “Ew—I hate that.”

/

The trip through the community garden was quaint, as there wasn’t a terrible amount of land to cover. Mainly a greenhouse and seasonal flowers planted outside with a decorative fountain. Enid finds amusement in the way she catches Wednesday observing every little thing. She often forgets that the girl did have affinity for life.

Inanimate life, that is.

“We don’t have any of these back in Jersey,” Wednesday murmurs at the small section labeled ‘DANGEROUS, DO NOT LEAN OR CONSUME.’ The brunette does exactly that, inhaling the petal of something gnarly looking. “The weather and sunlight doesn’t quite permit.”

Enid smiles at her, phone in hand and definitely not hiding a picture she took of the seer looking too cute for her own good.

“So…that was insane,” Her brother says at her side in amusement. Hand in hand with Venus and sharing a look. “I still remember when we came here my Senior year of highschool for a school trip and this kid touched one those as a dare. He was gone from class for like a whole month!”

Wednesday scoffs at the story, as if she didn’t believe it.

“Amateurs who didn’t build a solid tolerance,” She insults. She stands up straight, assumedly growing bored of the plants already. “Luckily, my family has built up a natural affinity to most toxins. The average person’s body, normie or not, however…”

She trails with a huff that Enid knows to be laughter. Because, Wednesday found joy in one upping people. If not the thought of one’s demise at her success. Enid could relate in her own competitive nature, but her roommates games were always a bit more ‘high stakes’ so to speak…

“Can we grab food next? My wolf has been pissy ever since I made myself pass on that chocolate croissant earlier,” Venus prompts next.

They had started walking with no real destination aside from leaving.

“Yeah, totally, I think theres still that Sushi place down the block from here.” Charlie enthusiastically offers. Venus’ stomach audibly growls.

“Ugh, just sushi? I’m starving!”

“Ok, no offense, but its not as good on the East Coast! I’ve been craving that and a good taco ever since I got on the plane.” Bart sighs in what was probably his stomach talking to him in tandem with his wolf.

Enid just wishes her wolf chose to speak about mundane things like food or sleep instead of her personal life. It sounded far less taxing.

(If they are hungry, our mate must also be. I agree in hunting for a meal.)

So not what she meant by that. And now came the art of getting Wednesday Addams to admit she needs something.

“I’m down for whichever tbh,” Enid interjects. Mainly to make some sort of progress before she gets hangry herself. “I could definitely empty a taco cart out right now, though—Wednesday?”

Her friend looked to be half paying attention. In fact, Enid’s ninety percent sure she saw the girl stuff something in her pocket. She narrows her eyes, but Wednesday plays confused, rejoining the group as if she’d been present all along.

“That is my name. Dare you to say it two more times,” She looks to her brother and Venus when she says that last bit. Enid only fondly rolls her eyes.

“Any food preferences before we head out of here? We were thinking a food truck,”Enid starts innocently. She anticipates the way her friend (for now at least) crossed her arms judgmentally.

“Greasy, street food after caffeine and sugar?” Wednesday questions rhetorically, before shrugging, “Typical.”

“So…is that a ‘no’?” Charlie leans down to ask her quietly.

“Thats Wednesday for she’s ‘not that hungry right now, but when she sees me with my taco platter in a little bit she’s gonna ask me for a bite.’” Enid explains cheekily, ignoring the way Wednesday looks immediately offended.

“I resent the notion that my culinary curiosity of a werewolf’s appetite akins me to some sort of ‘beggar’.”

But Enid bites back her smile with a grin, once again addressing her sibling and Venus, sans Wednesday.

“That’s a fancy way of admitting I’m right,” Enid sings…. Only to squeak at the press of something sharp to her backside. “Wednesday! I told you—this was a no sharp objects outing!”

The seer scoffs, “And be the only one of the four of us without a means to defend myself? I am no damsel.”

(Our mate is a strong one. She must not catch us lacking again!)

How is getting literally stabbed in the back Enid’s fault?

And as she scolds Wednesday about things like public safety and concealed carry laws—she misses the way her sibling looks at them. The way Venus nudges him with a shoulder and her eyes look between the two younger girls without saying anything. She didn’t need to.

“Any luck on your end?” Charlie whispered, referring to the brief time his fiancée spent with his sister’s future mate.

He figured Enid was beating around the bush, as the Addams girl wasn’t wearing any sort of jewelry to indicate it yet. And she barely smelled like anyone in their family aside from simply being in the house.

Originally, he had simply thought the runt got cold paws. He wasn’t expecting the full frontal denial. And people thought he was the dumb one…

He had been far more eager when he met Venus—he’d hunted her the finest stone he could, embedding it in a bracelet she wore to this day. Along side her ring of course.

“Girl is kookier than the side of my family that does hoodoo on the regular,” Venus quips just as quiet. “But, from what I gathered when we had a little chit chat in the cafe… I deadass think the only one that doesn’t know that they’re pretty much dating is your sister.”

Venus says it in way thats bordering on apologetic. For who specifically, he’s not sure. However he heaves out a sigh, as his sibling looks ready to tear her hair out. Meanwhile he can see the Addams girl looking up at her like she hung the God damn moon.

“Moon, fix it…” Charlie says, blowing out an exasperated breath. Venus can only pat his shoulder in understanding.

Chapter Text

She thinks the universe gives her a break due to the amount of soul crushing revelations she makes. The way in which the rest of their evening goes off without much of a hitch.

When they get there she finds her father adjusting the Christmas lights on the house. Again.

Another reminder of how close Leo was to getting home. Her mother was a perfectionist and it extended to giving them all random tasks to ‘spruce up the place’ for guests. Even though Leo of all people knows the state of their den at its worst.

He was there for the first eighteen or so Christmases of his life, technically.

“You good up there, gramps?” Charlie calls up as they head back into the house.

Their dad was using his werewolf agility and strength to hang off the roof. A hammer in his spare hand, he gives them all a look with his grayish orange beard. A lot more effective and spry than normies his age that spend hours on a ladder making home improvements.

“Hey, how was the trip? I hope you brought your mother a croissant, cause she’s been craving it,” Their dad calls down. He makes a face while talking about his wife’s demands.

Enid just holds up a brown bakery bag and shakes it. Murray gives them a thumbs up as they head back inside. It’s so eerily easy going, from the way her brothers greet each other to the her mother giving a damn when she enters along with Charlie.

“Hope you showed our guest a good time?” Esther whispers to her, after checking her pup over. Enid’s jaw clenched and her smile and nod tight.

She’s never gonna get used to that.

Wednesday standing idle by her side (close enough that the back of their hands keep grazing) helps. Though, knowing what she needs to know and even more glaring—what she wants…it makes electricity, like sparks go up her back.

Every time they touch.

Every time they naturally do something that has someone (be it her mother, her brothers, the universe itself) giving her those knowing eyes and her wolf frolicking around its mental cage in contentment.

Even dinner goes perfectly fine. No direct mention of her and Wednesday’s relationship status (or lack thereof) and mainly focused on Venus and Charlie’s engagement. Her mother even has him choking on a bone at the askance for grand puppies.

Enid’s just sighing in relief at finally not being the topic of discussion. Makes it easier to digest her dinner. For better, or worse as she definitely doesn’t miss being in the hot seat once upon a time for not wolfing out.

Or her new found status paraded around like it’s something they’ve always done.

Now, she’s allowed the time to actually think. Decide what to do with the last week’s worth of information—starting with the most important thing she hasn’t set right. She even sneaks some texting in under the table, desperately trying to come across not like a total bitch.

(Delaying the inevitable I see.)

More like trying to be tactful. Considering how pressed she was to date him, it's a little ironic how easy her wolf thinks this would be to end things. As if she was the only party affected in the end.

(Do you believe everyone to be as blind as you?)

She’s sure she pulls a face at that. On the outside, as they all sit at the table. Thankfully, even Wednesday seemed to be tuned in to the wedding conversation. Likely due to her new need to immerse herself in werewolf culture, but regardless it works to her advantage.

Ajax deserved something in person.

The next best thing was the modern innovation otherwise known as Facetime.

He had been eerily calm in regards to her sudden message asking to ‘talk’ after radio silence for most of the week. On top of her erratic behavior for a majority of the month she’s been back home. The omitted information that grew into piles and baggage that she didn’t know how to unpack in a safe way. Or, how all of it even came to be.

Well…thats not entirely true, but…

Nothing about her most recent semester at Nevermore had been predictable. Premeditated (apparently), but not in any way she could’ve guessed without the arrival of Wednesday that fateful morning. Ironic that one of the first people she found herself introducing the seer to was the very boy that inadvertently would come between them.

Granted, like most things in her life at the moment…she had done this to herself. After promising herself she would no longer fold to the wishes of others, she finds herself more in need of some sort of validation than ever.

“You’ve something to tell me,” Wednesday announces very suddenly. After they head back to her room post dinner and bidding everyone goodnight. And Enid can only play dumb, even as those dark eyes narrow.

She pauses only briefly, as she had been preparing to slip out as she had been nightly to go change. Spend some time out back after, to bathe in moonlight too. Just this time she wasn’t planning on talking to Yoko while she did so.

“Uh…what makes you think that?” Enid asks a question in return. She holds her pajamas in hand, along with her toiletries. “Aren’t you gonna get started on your writing?”

Wednesday crosses her arms and doesn’t drop her accusatory stare.

“I’m feeling uninspired suddenly,” The seer replies. Then, she takes a bold step forward, “You were uncharacteristically quiet during dinner. I would argue that I had more to say about your brother’s wedding venue and date options than you did. Where as that leech you speak to has been frolicking around with that siren girl for less than a year and you’re extremely vocal about being their future ‘maid of honor’...so I repeat. What aren’t you telling me?”

Ok, so maybe Wednesday was watching her more than she thought. And for…way longer than she would’ve guessed, honestly.

(She is our mate. She is naturally attuned to our every move, as we are with her.)

Funny, considering she feels even worse at reading Wednesday now than she did when they first met.

“I...just had a lot on my mind,” She lamely explains. “I’m probably gonna put on a good playlist and sit in the bath to clear my head.”

Not unusual behavior from her. Wednesday looks no less satisfied in hearing it.

“Then, you’ll be pleased to know I’m choosing to forfeit my writing time tonight in favor of studying,” She reveals. Next comes Thing crawling from under her bed with a familiar looking book in his hand. Wednesday takes it with a pleased hum and thanks.

“Where did you…” Enid squints at the book, getting closer to read the cover and confirm her suspicions. “Is that from my den? How the heck did–”

“An extra hand doesn’t hurt,” The seer quips. Then, much softer–like, almost shyly, she looks to her feet for a moment. Then to Thing, who gives her an encouraging thumbs up. Enid watches bewildered, up until Wednesday’s suddenly looking up at her through her lashes. “I was…looking to inquire on your…perspective in regards to some of your pack customs I may be ignorant to.”

Had her eyes always been so doe shaped? Her lips perfectly arched and full—

Regardless, Enid feels deep concern at how her friend was obviously struggling with her words. Then, the more she’s beating around the bush, it makes her brows furrow. Was…was she…?

(Yes, silly girl, our mate wants us to join her in her studies. She wants to know more about our pack.)

Well, that last part would need a little bit more ironing out if (and thats a big if) the two of them actually start dating, but…

“O-Oh!” Enid’s eyes widen. Wednesday looks expectantly at her, as she awkwardly grips her pajamas. Well, there goes her plan for privacy. Normally her roommate would’ve jumped for joy (in her Addams-y non reactionary way) at her leaving the room during this time of day.

Come to think of it…Wednesday hadn’t asked to be away from her even once this whole time. Even sharing her bed and sitting so close to Enid she may as well be glued to her side. Bad enough her family already sees them as a package deal—mates.

(Ours. The moon has chosen.)

And Enid’s seeing more and more everyday exactly why.

She bites her lip for a moment as she decides how to tell her that she’s about to break up with Ajax over Facetime, because of ancient wolf junk and her personal feelings that she’d been ignoring.

“But…you’ve some prior engagement or duty, correct?” Wednesday replies in her stammering and awkward shuffling. “I’m assuming it has something to do with your brother’s arrival?”

“Not technically–I mean, I’m still anxious about it, yes, but I had something more…pressing?” She can barely look at Wednesday. A far cry from when she was pacing and freaking out about her and Ajax’s first date. Back when she was spilling her every thought at drop of a hat.

Back when she was still telling herself the eagerness to be close to and know the seer was strictly platonic. Or, more delusionally, just someone she was ‘intrigued’ by.

That her natural pack mentality and loyalty is what brought her back. What made her invite Wednesday in the first place, when she hadn’t spoken a word to her alleged boyfriend aside from telling him goodbye and sneaking a kiss. It had been quick…because she had been glued to Wednesday after everything and felt the need to rush back.

Even though she was never asked.

But, thats what friends do, right? At least…it used to be a hell of a lot easier to call it that.

“I was also gonna call Ajax…” She admits. Its like a weight lifted off, but in tandem she feels as naked as she is after transforming. Especially when Wednesday looks…

“The gorgon boy?” She asks with a scoff. Her hands go her sides and her expression scrunches up in an adorable display of disgust. “I didn’t think you the type to poke a stick at a dead snake, considering how squeamish you are.”

“We’re technically still together,” She replies defensively and automatically. Her eyes bug out at her automatic denial, so used to fighting with the wolf in her brain. “B-But not for long, though!”

She almost drops everything in her hands as she reflexively tries to hold her hands up to placate the way her not-so-secret crush looks to grind her teeth. She knew this look–the way her hands bunched and those boba-shaped eyes narrowed into something much more sinister.

Wednesday often reacted in subtleties. Hints of emotion that she knew the seer did her best to disguise with a frown or dead eyes; Enid knew better.

It both terrifies and excites her…Wednesday is displeased with the fact that she’s still talking to Ajax.

“I see,” The seer says after a long while. She clears her throat, looking down at Enid’s full arms again, before she gets another dangerous look. “You’re not being forced or blackmailed…are you?”

“Omg–no!” Enid holds back a laugh at the thought of Ajax’s weed-brain scheming something as intricate at this. “Its not like that, I just…I was kinda procrastinating on it? I know that sounds like really bad, but I didn’t wanna like…idk, hurt him? I guess I probably am regardless, but…”

“I should’ve figured no one who lacks the self respect and drive enough to call their group ‘stoners’ would be capable of a hostage situation,” Wednesday quips. Enid feels the weight on her chest lift a bit more at the seer’s attempt at being light hearted. “May I ask what prompted these…feelings?”

The emphasis on the word is not lost on Enid; in fact she knows well enough to confidently say theres more to it than simply being ‘above’ them. Wednesday genuinely wanted to know about something she’d otherwise call trivial–something she claimed to prefer less than poison.

(Confess to her while we have the chance!)

Can she break up with Ajax first? Maybe?

“A lot of things—so many things,” Enid laments. At Wednesday’s nod and unrelenting stare, she continues. Abandoning any idea of a relaxing bath, she sits on her bed, while the seer sits at her desk. The comically pink chair against her black palette does little to quell how nervous she feels now. “My wolf for one thing, because she…she kinda hates him? Or–hate is a strong word–”

(No. Hate it not a strong enough word. I would rather face another decade of inactivity than speak to him again.)

Again, mind you, Ajax has done nothing but exist.

“Is that also why you keep spacing out?” Wednesday interrupts her mental scolding. “Unlocking your wolf has possibly altered your hormone distribution. On top of your natural instincts.”

Thankfully it sounds more like scientific intrigue than suspicion. She has even less of an idea of how to introduce the whole ‘the wolf in my head is in love with you and has claimed you as my forever mate’ thing…

“Uh, kinda?” Enid has a hard time meeting her eyes. “More so things just make a lot more sense. Almost like…opening my eyes to things that were there all along.”

Her desk was located not that far from her bed. And Wednesday had moved the chair closer to listen. Enid doesn’t notice until she’s actively holding back her flustered blush at talking around her new found feelings. And the way the seer’s foot lingers next to her own.

“I can understand the feeling,” Wednesday replies after a few beats. In a tone that Enid didn’t want to read into, if she wanted to ease the guilt in her chest.

/

Texting Yoko before calling Ajax quickly becomes a mistake. The vampire just teases her on the fact that she hadn’t ‘wolfed up’ and done this after the last time they talked.

Yoko: wait..

Yoko: STILL 😨

Yoko: YOU DIDNT DUMP HIM YET????

Enid groans to herself, happy she decided to have this convo outback, with little ears or prying eyes. She has been sure not to cross paths with her family members and did good to ensure she was alone. She takes a glance at her last texts to Ajax.

Me: Can we ft later?

Me: Its rly important

Ajax: tonight? Ofccc 😁

Ajax: was wondering when u were gonna txt

Me: tonight works ya!

Me: also srry for the no response my brothers all just got back in town 😭🥲

Ajax: I saw on insta lol

Enid swallows, feeling her shoulders ease at her excuse being believed. Thankful for the first time in a while that her brothers went to the same school as her and they weren’t far apart in age. And that her hyper online behavior wasn’t just a her trait. She knew the twins to have a decent following—some of them girls that honest to God try to talk to them through her.

She’s always tempted to tell them what it was like growing up and trying to do laundry with their piles of BO covered jerseys, pants and pads in the way.

“Hey! Long time no effing see,” Ajax’s smiling face is like a jump scare. She feels bad for cringing, creating this awkward smile ad wave combo in return that she hopes doesn’t give her away.

“Ha, yeah, uh—about that…” She wished the shadowed moon above would swallow her whole.

(Keep delaying the inevitable if you want, silly girl)

Its called tact not avoidance. On top of the fact that everytime she gets her thoughts together they spill out her hands like papers gone flying.

“You ok?” Ajax asks in concern. Crap, that meant he was not only sober, but alert. “Did Addams bring spiders in her luggage or something?”

“No, she knows I hate—wait…” Enid feels her heart stop the second her brain catches up with everything. “You know about Wednesday being here?”

She does a poor job at sounding like she wasn’t totally hiding that information from him and everyone else. Luckily he looks to be walking through his own his own house, barely looking at the screen in that moment.

“Oh, yeah I saw it on your brother’s story on Insta,” He mentions. She sees him enter what was probably his bedroom, as its a lot quieter and he shuts the door behind him. “I kinda figured thats why you were so distracted. But, don’t worry I know not to intrude on ‘girl time.’”

He one hand air quotes, grinning to himself like he had cracked some kind of code.

(This brain dead boy was meant to wear our mark?)

In Enid’s defense, at the time she cared more about approval. Having a popular, yet elusive boy on her arm didn’t manage to make her mother proud but she did feel less lonely.

(When he shows up that is…)

Ok, he totally apologized for that! She’s just happy the school didn’t take the bus she sliced up out of her tuition.

“You’re…well, you’re half right,” Enid’s voice awkwardly lifts at the end. She bites her lip in nervousness, “Remember when I said that I was worried that wolfing out would make me change? Or-or lose the parts of me that made me…me?”

After she had seen Wednesday off, she had found herself alone with him. Felt like part of herself was missing, even with a physical body embracing her. She had thought that maybe it was her body changing and hormones adjusting. It filled her with irrational fear, after spending so long making peace with possibly never wolfing out at all.

She went from being Enid the half-breed to Enid the Blood Moon wolf in blink of an eye.

“Of course,” Ajax confirms. “And I meant it when I said I’d still care about you even if you came back with pointy ears or like chest hair, or something.”

She snorts at the thought of being stuck in a half state. The Hollywood version of her people was always more human looking than wolf, but she blamed that on normie ideology.

“Ok, how do I put this…” She starts slowly pacing around the back deck. A hand on her hip, she braces herself for her first retelling of her fated situation. “My wolf, she’s…she’s been sorta talking to me?”

“What do you mean…talking?” The gorgon boy furrows his brows.

“Talking as in ever since I wolfed out, I essentially share a brain with her now too.” Enid admits, more begrudging purely because she’s thinking of being at odds with the beast inside for most of the month.

“Like, voices in your head?” Ajax questioned.

“Kinda how no one can understand your snakes but you,” She explains. She already feels weight lifting from her in revealing her wolf’s existence to someone who’s not also a wolf and/or related to her. “She’s in the back of my head constantly, or like a devil on my shoulder. I feel like I can’t even blink without her telling me her opinion on it!”

(If not for me, our mate would be six feet under.)

Yet another indicator of how overt some of the signs were. Of course, after years of feeling bad about her lack of ability, a crush on a girl she’s not even aware of fuels her into transforming. After finding out that the boy she’s on the phone with had lied to her face.

(A dishonest mate is not worthy of us.)

Enid finds it a bit harder to defend him on that front.

“Tough crowd,” Ajax jokes. Then, more hesitantly, “Hopefully I can win her over?”

Her wolf rumbles low, threatened and slighted at the implication of warming up to someone that wasn’t her pack, or who she really wanted.

She coughs, almost afraid that he knew. That part of him could tell that her heart was elsewhere, or maybe it was written on her face the same way it was willed by the moon. Her own wolf had known the moment they met.

The need to be close. To be liked. To be something to Wednesday Addams, even if it was just cordial.

“Thats…not possible,” Enid’s eyes drop to grass, then to her phone screen. “She…she already knows what she wants. I found my mate, Ajax.”

“O-Oh…” She sees his brown eyes fall. Nothing dramatic, more disappointment. “I guess that, uh…it makes sense now why the picture your brother posted said it was a ‘double date.’ I, uh…I had thought it was a girl thing—like when you call Yoko your girlfriend. You’re not…have you and Yoko ever…?”

“OMG, no!” Enid denies furiously, face heating up even more. Before amending, “Not like…seriously or anything.”

Ajax makes a face but spares himself in not asking further question.

Dammit, Charlie!

“Also—It wasn’t a date-date. More like a me figuring my shit out kinda thing so I could have something to actually tell you.” Enid tries to explain her avoidance in a way that wouldn’t br taken the wrong way. Like she didn’t care.

Only, Ajax purses his lips. He looks off, gears and cogs turning in his head like he's making sense of things. And Enid honestly feels bad, because she never meant to lead him on. She’s about to say that, but then—

“You know, Bianca would make a lot of jokes about you too having some kinda…thing going on.” He muses, saying it like shes not even there. Enid scoffs, mouth agape at the accusation.

“Why would she—actually, of course she did.” Enid rolls her eyes, “She was so salty after the Poe Cup.”

Ajax awkwardly coughs, “I dunno…” 

Enid's eyes narrow at the implication that the Poe Cup era hadn't been cut throat and led by the annual rivalry between her and the siren team.

“Whats that supposed to mean?” She growls, her wolf a little bit too happy to come out and spook him. The gorgon boy flinches, looking like he regrets even starting this lane of conversation.

“Wednesday was...ok look, she was mean mugging the hell out of me during that kayak race, every time I looked at you.” He reveals, after a bit of hesitation. She sees the snakes quivering under his hat as he rubs his neck. “And I didn’t even give a crap if we won!”

Enid flashes back to he way the seer had commanded her to keep her eyes straight and stay 'focused'.

"And...she told me she'd chop off my snakes and send them back as a new pair of boots if I told you, but...after the Rave'n when we got back together she woke me up at knife point and told me if I ever stood you up or hurt you again she'd--well, you can fill in the rest. So, I'd say she's pretty, uh...protective of you." He sheepishly ends, shoulders shivering like he got a chill of cold air.

"She did?" Enid asks, rhetorically because its so specific and violent that it couldn't be anyone else. She tilts her head back, hand through her hair and wondering how a girl can be so out of touch with her own feelings. “Did literally everyone know before me?”

“Well, I mean its just sinking in for me, but…” He throws up a hand. “Aren’t you supposed to be the one up to date on the gossip?”

“Its not usually about me,” She whines. The double edged sword to being in everyone else’s business, she supposed.

“So…are you and Wednesday like a-a thing now?” Ajax asks next, not sounding like he’s nearly as heartbroken as Enid had feared. He even sounds genuinely curious, in a weird sort of way, if not only because they're exes as of two minutes ago.

“Thats a good question, isn’t it…” She mumbles to herself. “Not yet…but its not out of the question. I dunno…and I feel bad even talking to you about it.”

She refers again to the fact that this was meant to be a break up conversation, rather than two friends catching up.

“I asked, so,” He shrugs. “Well, you just dumped me…what’s stopping you?”

”Don’t say it like that,” Enid tries to defend herself. “And…well, its Wednesday Addams. Werewolf courting is complicated enough as it is and I wanna make sure I do it right.”

She just wants to do one thing about this right.

“Don’t Addams like stuff to be not right?” Ajax counters. “I got the gist of the whole kooky, spooky, unconventional thing when she snuck into the Nightshades meeting.”

“The same one I wasn’t invited to,” Enid quips semi-bitterly. Yoko apologized profusely and promised to bring her back some fancy beef and fish from Japan.

Still didn’t make being lied to sting any less.

“We’ll call it even, how about that?” Ajax retorts, referring to the current subject of conversation.

Oh..right.

Enid clears her throat, “Fair enough.”

“Point is…I think you’re doing the whole courting thing ok,” Ajax concludes. "I have the death threat to prove it."

Short of saying thank you, because of this impossible situation. Enid appreciates the advice from her ex more than he’ll ever know. 

“Are we still…friends?” Enid asks softly, with trepidation. 

That title didn’t make her wolf nearly as mad. She didn’t love it, but Enid wasn’t cruel. She felt indebted, like she had the last push she needed to talk to Wednesday. And the gorgon boy on her screen looks briefly taken aback. Like he hadn't expected Enid to want to keep talking to him.

“I think we can be…eventually,” Ajax answers, after blowing air from his mouth.“I just think I, uh…need a minute?”

“Maybe after the break?” She asks tentatively. He nods, smiling before giving the camera a wave.

“Maybe…have a good night E.”

“You too, Aj.”

(It is time. We have left our mate restless and waiting for long enough.)

Enid bobs her head, feeling far more determined than she had before. Ajax had all but given his blessing; not that she needed it per say, but the knowledge of how Wednesday had been looking out for her (and without being asked!) had her heart swelling and her wolf simpering more than she already was.

Her ears naturally attune to the girl's heart beat, she lets herself listen to the soft beats. Eyes lol up to her bedroom window that faced the backyard, shocked when they meet a pair of brown. 

Wednesday's eyes widen immediately, her fingertips on the windowsill and bangs that soon disappear as if they hadn't been there at all. The only proof being the way that the heartbeat she'd been tracking starts going crazy.

She had totally just caught Wednesday peeping at her!

Enid continues to look up at her own window, lingering where the seer’s head had been peaking. The glass cracked just so, like Wednesday Addams of all people was one to be invested in gossip. It made no sense in any other light than the one of the Moon they were currently under.

“You’re right,” Enid whispers to herself. Her wolf may have had a point about waiting...

/

When she walks in her bedroom, she’s got her hands on her hips and she’s holding back a grin. Trying not to be too obvious about how amused she is about Wednesday trying to eavesdrop on her conversation with Ajax. If not only because of the way her eyes had widened.

And how Enid could hear her heart rate spike: when she had initially seen her in the window and again the second she reached the half way point up the staircase.

It desperate;y tries to lull and sync up with how eerily steady her roommate’s breathing was. The way she sat at Enid’s desk with the book she’d had earlier, slowly turning the page before she looks up as if nothing had happened.

(She is swift, stealthy…she will be the perfect hunting partner.)

Hmph…speaking of—

“How’s the studying going?” Enid asks when Wednesday doesn’t immediately look up. As if she didn’t hear her purposely heavy footsteps and throat clearing. The seer was alone, oddly enough. Things whereabouts were the last thing on her mind at the moment, though.

“Its been very enlightening, actually,” Wednesday replies evenly as ever, meeting her eyes as if she wanted her to be aware that she could. Enid hums, letting her believe that she’s not gonna press it. Hands behind her back, she steps closer and smiles wider at the ever racing pulse she still hears.

“Were…you on the chapter about the wildlife closest to the edge of our backyard, or…?” She cocks her head teasingly, watching the way her roommate flustered; grumpily huffing and closing the book she had been using to mime.

“No, actually I was brushing up on my knowledge of werewolf anatomy and major arteries,” Wednesday replies warningly. Enid raises a brow in challenge. She leans over the girl and her book, eyeing her from above with a mischievous grin.

“Oh, I see…it wasn’t you I caught peaking at me outside, then?” She watches the girl’s movements intently, ears still keen to her heart beat.

And it was going so fast, Enid almost felt breathless as if it were her own.

Her roomie is as stubborn as ever, standing to her full height. She winds up standing so close—eye to eye with Enid in a way that she could taste her breaths. Straight to her brain, waking the beast and its craving.

(Embrace her. Need her closer. Her touch. Her lips. Her kiss—)

Enid feels her own pulse start to jump at the way the proximity riles her wolf. Because…Wednesday’s looking at her with hooded eyes. She’s not backing away, or making comment on the lack of personal space currently. She even speaks softly.

“I was simply making sure I didn’t need to make a quick trip out with my rifle,” Wednesday finally replies.

Enid swallows at the sheer intensity of it.

“OMG, no! Its not like that at all. We talked about it and things ended very amicably,” She’s uselessly rambling. Trying to both defend Ajax from an untimely death and not make a complete pariah out of herself trying to confess. She even dares grab the seer’s clenched fist, “That means no traveling across state lines with assault weapons…again.”

She keeps it light, joking. Wednesday hasn’t broken eye contact, or forced her to remove her hand from hers.

“That is up for deliberation.”

“Seriously, everything is fine between us!” Enid insists, “If anything…I’m the one that hurt his feelings by dumping him.”

For you, remains unspoken. At least for now.

(Time is ticking. The Moon is waning.)

But, before she can say anything, Wednesday beats her to the punch. 

“Then, he’s even more of a foolish burn out than I originally thought.” Wednesday muses, murmuring the insult. Enid takes pause from fighting with her wolf to let it sync in. “He never deserved you.”

And in another life, this is all she’s ever wanted. This ease in banter with Wednesday. A bestie and roomie to go to with relationship issues. It may have even been easier.

Yet, she can’t even speak. Too taken with the thought of Wednesday showing her exactly what she did deserve. After being the only one to ever tell her she deserved anything.

“You would consider yourself to be single now…correct?”

Enid feels her brain short circuit and soft reset.

(Answer her, foolish girl!)

“Uh—yeah, yes?” She nods furiously. Squeezes the hand shes still holding and nearly squeaks when her other is grabbed in tandem.

“Then…” Wednesday looks away from her for the first time, eyes darting left briefly. Then, with renewed confidence, “You wouldn’t be opposed to the possibility of entering into another courtship?”

Oh!

Well, then.

Her wolf barks, like a sharp yip in her ear that jostles her into action.

(Don’t just stand there on your hind paws!)

Enid clears her throat, blinking for a moment, before she smiles.

“Not at all…”

Wednesday nods, determinedly. And she hesitates again and again only briefly, with this adorable look of deliberating. She licks her lips, catching Enid’s eye, which Wednesday definitely notices as soon as it happens.

Oh, for Moon’s sake…

“Then, let us seal it.” Is what her ‘bestie’ says right before she presses their lips together.

Both her hands on Enid’s flaming hot cheeks, her eyes not closing but peeking into her wide ones. And its nothing like the handful of kisses she’s had before where she’s taken the lead. Spin the bottle and dares didn’t really count, because she had still been anticipating it in some way. Even the couple girls, (yes, including Yoko) it had been soft, brief.

No real commitment. Even with the boyfriend she thought she wanted. That had faded along with her confidence that family weekend with her mother.

Enid breaks the kiss, at protest of her wolf and with Wednesday looking at her strangely. Unspoken askance, like perhaps she did something wrong. Like Wednesday could spare the time to genuinely apologize to her. She breathes in once, heavy.

Looks at the only person who’s ever looked at her and wanted her as she was.

Looks at the first person who didn’t return her gaze with pity under their first full Moon together.

Looks at the lips that left her own tingling; the only problem here is that they weren’t even closer.

She abandons the maybes in her head to throw her arms around the seer and connects their lips again.

Chapter Text

O…M…Freaking G!

Ok, ok, ok she cannot make this weird. Please, for Moon’s sake don’t ruin this for her please.

Not only is she in her childhood bedroom and not bored out of her mind and depressed; she’s currently in the hands of her roommate, turned bestie, turned innocent crush, turned fated werewolf mate.

Sharing their first kiss.

And she’s not the one that initiated it! Wednesday did.

Wednesday Addams wanted to kiss her.

(Silly human…still pretending it was not obvious from the beginning) Followed by a very sassy sounding chuff from the wolf in her head. Enid feels her momentary bliss fade into exasperation.

Can her wolf not just be happy for her? Never mind the semantics or how embarrassingly slow she’s been.

(I am only stating the facts. You wasted time with that meaningless gorgon, while our mate was with the enemy.)

Seriously? Blaming her for that? She never even liked Tyler!

Enid unintentionally growls…out loud and against Wednesday’s mouth. The seer gives a hum of surprise, pulling away to look at her proper. It makes the werewolf girl both pouty and flustered, as her roommate’s brow raised in question. And what was probably some sort of morbid Addams family branded curiosity.

“I admit to only having done this a few times,” Wednesday murmurs. Her eyes lower to her lips again, swiping the bottom with her thumb. “But, I’ve always considered myself a quick study.”

Holy—

And then she has audacity to look up through those lashes with big brown vulnerable eyes and parted lips…

(Oh, how hopeless you are…foolish girl.)

Even her wolf can’t kill her high right now. Speaking of—

“I’d say…” Enid can’t hold back the goofy smile, all teeth and body thrumming in excitement. She wants so badly to hug her right now, but she doesn’t want to push it. Instead, she innocently flirts, “I’ve never wanted to study with you so bad in my life.”

Its so much easier to be unfiltered and honest now that she knows Wednesday actually wants to kiss her. With Ajax it had been different—boys are easy and what you’re supposed to do. And girls weren’t hard either, necessarily. Although Enid does find herself a tad bit insecure depending, but still! Most people worked similarly, regardless of gender.

An Addams, however…

“A majority of my readings would leave you palor and squeamish,” Wednesday quips. The barest hint of a smile on her lips, “Are you sure you’re up for the task, Sinclair? I’ve seen how your eyes glaze over during anatomy.”

Its light, but in living with and sharing (several) near death experiences with this girl, Enid sees through it a bit deeper. Wednesday wasn’t an emotional person, but she was extremely passionate; she didn’t extend invitations to just any old person on the street. Even metaphorically, the Addams girl wasn’t one to take her personal time lightly—in fact she planned it eerily down to the second she closed her eyes for bed at night.

And Enid would know, because she timed her before out of sheer disbelief.

So…she knows theres a double meaning when her roommate asks. If not from proximity, then the calculated way the seer looks into her eyes like she’s searching for something.

Wednesday was flirting back.

(Must we continue to make her wait for us?)

Internally, Enid rolls her eyes…but she knows the beast within has a point. So, externally she does something she probably should of days (if not weeks) ago. She leans down to capture Wednesday’s lips again; just barely tilting forward to press them together. This time she’s much more confident, even daring to cup the seer’s cheeks softly in her hands.

Her fear forgotten when those hands go to her wrists and hold her in place. And (although she’d likely deny it til the day she dies) Enid’s ninety percent sure she hears a noise in back of Wednesday’s throat; suspiciously so.

Enid’s more than a bit smug when she pulls away, mainly towards her wolf. And the fact that Wednesday’s totally blushing right now—its faint, but the dusting of pink against her freckles doesn’t lie.

“I’d say that was a very educational experience, mm?” Enid teases, enjoying the momentary higher ground. It settles in her chest like pride and she feels weight off her shoulders; her back a bit straighter and standing much taller.

While Wednesday continued to look up at her, unamused and darn near pouting instead of just frowning. She only wished she could tell her how adorable she looked without risking never seeing it again.

“Don’t be so haughty,” The seer continues to pout. She clears her throat and crosses her arms.“I am to assume that now your pack will want to be privy to this development?”

Oh…oh, yeah…

She had almost forgotten the fact that the main catalyst to this whole thing was her mother meddling in her life. Again. And her inescapable family/wolf customs that were not only taught to her since she was a pup but practically law.

Well! There goes her momentary high…

(You knew this was coming. You were warned long before.)

Yeah, yeah—now is so not the time to say ‘I told you so’!

“Uh—About that…” Enid keeps up her smile, as if she’s not about to drop a bomb. Hands behind her back even, which only make Wednesday look suspicious. Her smile tightens, “They…kinda, sorta already might think we’re dating? And they may think thats the whole reason you’re here in the first place…I think…”

She does more than merely ‘think.’

Its been blatantly obvious the more she thinks about it. When she remembers the way her mother looked at her when she mentioned inviting Ajax at first. Or, the way her dad kept looking at them in the back seat when he thought she wasn’t checking. Even the twins had been dropping hints far from subtle, but Enid was used to the two of them trying to rile her up.

Charlie had only blown it up in 1080p, high definition so clear that even the latest of bloomers could figure it out. Even without her wolf in her ear—this invitation to ‘hang out over the break’ held way more weight than she was ready to admit.

And so…she expects Wednesday to be…mad? Feel lied to? Tricked or bamboozled?

But…no. Theres an apathy to the silence that follows that makes Enid question if perhaps she misspoke.

Wednesday has little to no reaction to the revelation of her pack knowing Enid’s feelings for her roommate. (On top of a plethora of other expectations that she would prefer to deal with at a later date.)

“I suppose that answers my suspicions, then.” Wednesday says very anticlimactically. Enid opens her mouth to speak, but Thing beats her to it; the very action making her remember he was still in the room and worst of all he had seen everything. Wednesday just rolls her eyes at him, “You did nothing aside from aiding in my chronic migraines.”

Thing waves her off, because apparently he had been telling his ‘stubborn’ relative to fess up about her own feelings. Along with aiding her in research of wolf culture and figuring out the importance of a pack invitation.

(As I said—our mate is a clever one. And she will not wait forever.)

Enid holds her hands up, steadying herself and trying to make sense of everything.

“Wait, wait…you knew?” Enid squeaks. Then, she points a finger at the similarly unbothered looking hand on her bed, “Thing too?”

He makes a sheepish gesture of his lack of innocence and dares imply that she was making it obvious on her own. Et tu, Thing?

“Well, I would hope these texts had some sort of truth to them, despite the publication dates. Although I admit your kind makes it very difficult for outsiders to find information on a lot of your more instinctive, innate customs.” Wednesday rattles it off like its nothing new or exciting.

Part of her is simply happy that this is shaping to be entirely less dramatic and terrible as she had originally feared. The other is still unfortunately grounded in the reality of what lay downstairs.

“Thats supposed to be part of the whole initiation into the pack thing…” Enid admits using air quotes. And then she suddenly can’t stop. “I’ve been doing this whole process out of order—I’ve literally been winging it everyday since I walked back in here with my suitcase for break. And I’m supposed to lead a whole freaking hunt in less than a day or so now!”

She ends up in her desk chair, flopping down and looking oh so pitiful. And not at all like the pack Alpha and leader that she was supposed to be. Her hands drag down her face as she groans.

“Why didn’t you simply tell me from the beginning?” Wednesday asks next, sounding more genuinely curious than upset about it.

“Because!” Enid whines through her fingers. “Do you really need me to narrow it down? You don’t really do the whole ‘relationship’ thing for one and the last person you went out with ended up being a homicidal maniac—which, I know to someone like you isn’t the worst thing in the world—”

“Hmph, hardly,” Wednesday interjects with a scoff. “That was just another Tuesday night. My uncle Fester’s last beau was far more well calculated in her chaos. Tyler was a little boy with a tantrum.”

Well, at least Enid knows theres no lingering feelings towards her ex…

“Morally questionable partners aside—it still doesn’t negate that ever since we met you’ve very firmly told me and everyone else who dared that you’re not into love, or anything as ‘mindless and demeaning as physical and emotional affection.’” She quotes the girl verbatim, if not only because she needs to remind herself (and her wolf) that her anxieties didn’t come from thin air. Regardless of the fact that the Addams girl was suddenly initiating things as deeply affectionate as a kiss—on the lips at that.

Not that the seer plays coy. In fact her face shows clear recognition of their black and white past; up until whatever switch flipped the second the universe decided they were perfect for each other. Even Wednesday looks to be battling with a few things in her head, which she could more than relate.

(And yet you continue to treat me like a dirty secret.)

Because she thinks one life altering revelation is enough for today, maybe? Besides…she still had plenty of time to tell Wednesday about everything else. 

Plus, right now it looked like Enid wasn’t the only one struggling with articulating their feelings.

“I…I am not well versed in the dark, sordid art of a proper courtship.” Wednesday says suddenly, her cadence evidence of how hard this was for her too. She works her jaw and Thing tries to make gestures of encouragement that gets him glared at. The seer pinches the bridge of her nose for a moment before heaving a sigh. “I often found my parents ‘life lessons’ to be otherwise banal or fruitless attempts at integrating some sort of conventionality to my rearing. Subtle attempts to mold me into what they wanted me to be, under guise of my personal enrichment, or worse—thinking they know whats ‘best’ for me. Sending me to that accursed institution, and where the two of them met to create their unholy union no less? I could smell a trap like that from miles away.”

Enid looks to want to interject at the spiel, not feeling exactly reassured by anything said. Wednesday halts her with a singular look; she was genuinely trying here. Enid sits back to properly listen.

“However…” Wednesday continues, clearing her throat. She rolls the words around the ceiling for a minute, eyes searching before concluding. “I, even in my burgeoning psychic abilities and stubborn will, could not anticipate the will of fate and chance. Being stuck with you was like flipping a coin or playing Russian roulette.”

“Gee thanks?” Enid deadpans, but doesn’t take her roommate’s way of delivery to heart. The way Wednesday still had the slightest bit of color was enough for her.

“That is to say, I nor my meddling and presumptive parents could have anticipated the horrors we experienced to the last detail. Even with our combined power of foresight,” Wednesday explains, sighing. Then, in that eerily gentle tone that left the seer very rarely, “You had no prior connection to anyone in my bloodline. You barely even knew of my mother aside from her previous accomplishments they insist on still displaying. The Nightshades don’t even recognize you as alumni. There’s no reason in heaven or hell for the two of us to even be privy of each other’s existence…and yet.”

Enid’s naive and incredibly hopeful to the point of delusional on a bad day. She’s not dumb, though. She could read between these lines, as if every word was written on paper to dissect. Wednesday didn’t want to be like her parents. Didn’t want to be set in stone or forced to do anything. And she could certainly relate to the feeling of familial pressure or innate duty that feels inescapable as your genetics.

Even in anomalies, there was still something to bind their weirdly shaped venn diagram of a relationship.

“You know…you’re probably the first and only person that heard I couldn’t wolf out and didn’t either throw me a pity party or look at me like a total walking pariah?” Enid mentions next, a small smile on her lips. Wednesday’s expression just barely falters, but she can see it in those eyes.

“Theres no use in applauding whats already expected. And you’ve never been that. I still chose to involve you in my investigation for a reason.”

They don’t stop holding eyes. She longs to hold hands, or simply hold her but doesn’t want to lose this moment.

“When I realized you were out there with Tyler alone…” Enid starts next. Thinks of the fear and adrenaline, all while being led with nothing but her nose and a singular hand on her shoulder. “When I got close enough to smell your blood—I felt it. Like…like breathing for the first time. Like everything finally made sense, the way everyone always said it would. My wolf just needed…”

You. I just needed you. And I almost lost you.

(We would never let that happen.)

“That explains the extra additions when Thing snitched about the whole stalker debacle.” Wednesday muses, referring to her partial wolf out over the threatening text messages her roommate had been receiving. It makes her wolf restless once again, a growl unconsciously rumbling through her body and making the seer’s eyes briefly widen. She shakes her head, “Which, I was going to tell you…eventually. I was first ensuring that there was something worth mentioning.”

Her wolf wants her to argue, but Enid’s too high off of the multiple revelations she’s now hip to. Like the fact that they both have been creating unnecessary obstacles in order to ‘protect’ each other. When all it really would’ve took is a simple conversation.

But, when has anything between them been simple?

“Guess we’re both guilty of omitting important information, then.” Enid flirts, rather than being upset.

“Well, if we’re in the era of revelation then I should let you know that it was your mother that initially made me aware of the fact your invitation was more than an offer of ‘thanks’ to my clan.” Wednesday reveals so casually, it takes her more than a few seconds for her brain to actually process what she’s heard.

“Wha—when?” Enid’s eyes bug out, before she remembers. The night she left the two of them alone. The fact that she came back to no sign of struggle. The way the next morning her mom was making Wednesday tea unprompted and exactly the way she liked it—and Wednesday had nodded in not only acknowledgement but thanks. “Oh my God…”

This whole time?

Ugh, of course her mother had meddling behind the scenes—when does she not take opportunity to embarrass her?

“You can’t honestly have expected me to stay completely in ignorance?” Wednesday says incredulously. At Enid’s sheepish expression and obvious distress at these confessions, the seer clicks her teeth. “I mean honestly—your family members have even looser lips than you do. Did you believe your affinity and obsession with gossip and gab started and ended with you?”

Ok, so maybe her family is inherently messy, and yes she knows her mother and siblings love to talk just as much if not more than she does. Even the fact that Ajax found out about things through Charlie’s Instagram of all places. It makes her feel more than a bit silly in hindsight.

(I would say I told you so, but we’ve bigger things to deal with. It is late. The previous Alpha approaches.)

Its like something innate in her bones; the feeling of Leo being close to town. The eldest Sinclair was driving, because he didn’t live that far away in being the family Alpha. The West Coast was big enough to give him space to live his life and return home if something came up. And…well, something had definitely come up. Quite a few ‘somethings’, actually.

“Well, theres still one last person who doesn’t know yet…hopefully,” Enid adds uncertainly. “Leo’s so quiet we used to joke that mom brought the wrong pup home from the hospital.”

Her brother was more like their father; cool, contemplative and more of an observer. He only showed aggression when necessary and kept an incredibly level head in being the oldest sibling amidst the chaos of their household growing up. He was like the impromptu line leader the second Charlie was born and Enid knew to look at him as a secondary authority since she was weened.

Always the leader on their hunts, even when they weren’t wolfed out. The person to solve their bouts and watch/herd them when they left the den without their parents. The one who would look out for her, even when everyone else in the pack started to see her as a failure; he always stuck up for her even in their constant comparison.

Even recently, though his support grew more quiet as she became ‘too old’ to still be carried around by the scruff.

“If only your brother could rub off on you in the way that counts,” Her mother had once said. She used to say that she embodied little other than his blonde head and attitude when mad.

A big 180 in comparison to the women who would now pinch her cheeks and coo to her like she was someone precious—to have pride and joy in.

It weighs enough on her brain that its easier not to overthink it when she’s settling in bed next to Wednesday. Half her mind was miles away, while her wolf purred in contentment at the scent of funeral lilies that settled next to her in the sheets. Thing curled up on the foot of the bed and Wednesday had her pack history book in her hand while she laid back against the pillows. Enid laid on her side, absently scrolling through Tweets that only partially register.

Its oddly…normal. Peaceful even, if you ignore literally everything else.

“Your pack dates further back than I initially anticipated. The roots extend along the entire coast, almost as long as my own clan on the opposite end. The very first Alpha ruled for multiple generations before passing the torch. I notice this trend continues as I keep reading.” Wednesday had been interjecting periodically with anecdotes or questions, all the while in eerily close proximity to her. They were just barely touching, even though Enid had a queen bed with plenty of room. The past few nights they had still been acting like they respected the distance between.

And Enid definitely still did, but the fact that Wednesday had been wordlessly giving her more leeway made her heart sing. Its the gold lining around all the uncertainties.

“Yeah, before Leo it was my Grandad on my mom’s side and then my Grandma was like the widowed first lady, or whatever and my dad and his brother were co chairs. Until Leo was of age—the day he wolfed out for the first time we had the biggest party I’ve ever seen! And then…well, apparently now its on me,” Enid concludes lackluster.

Her roommate stares wordless at her while she self-deprecates, but Enid preferred that to pity. Not that Wednesday was the type to give that out.

“You said you don’t believe your brother will challenge the switch, correct?” Wednesday inquires. Enid nods slowly, but surely. “Then, I don’t believe you’ve anything to worry about. Besides, if anything were to go awry, my powers would alert me at the slightest touch of nefarity.”

A tentative hand is placed on her forearm. Its cold, but the press is soft, like a ghost of a touch.

That does entirely more than she expected…actually, its more relieving than not. For once she’s happy that her friend receives premonitions of tragedy and worst case scenarios. Its the only thing that lulls her to sleep, along with the soft sound of page turns and her mate’s breathing.

Her mate. Still feels so surreal and silly to even think.

/

(Wake…up…)

Enid sits up in bed with a start. Her body hot and her pulse racing. Her hands tremble as one runs through her messy hair, feeling her own claws scrape against her scalp.

Oh no.

(Feed…)

Enid closes her eyes at the gravelly voice of the beast. Why now? She’s been fine ever since Wednesday’s arrival. She hasn’t wolfed out in days. Their family meals had been enough to satiate her cravings for bloody meat. And her nerves had been on end enough to suffice the rush of a hunt.

Or so she had thought.

(Get up. Must hunt. Now!)

Her wolf’s words were stilted and animalistic, like when she’s worked up. Enid doesn’t understand, but she knows from her past experiences that its gonna happen no matter how much she tries to fight it or see reason.

She tries to be quiet, using her new found agility and growing strength to launch herself out of bed without climbing over Wednesday or disturbing Thing. She’s rushing out of the door and through the hall way like there’s a fire under her. Her stomach feels like its burning, like the game she had for dinner had come back to life and wanted to crawl through her bellybutton. Her gums ache and throb just as hard with powerful canines that want to extend and sink into unassuming prey.

(Let…Me…Out!)

When she makes it to the backyard, she falls to her knees and howls out.

*

Wednesday wakes up not long after Enid’s untimely exit. Her eyes pop open the second the girl leaves the room, her keen hearing betraying any attempt at subtlety. She sits up in Enid’s bed with suspicion, noting Thing also awake and alert. He cocks his wrist in a shrug, likely just as curious as she was. Although, she had an inkling…

Especially after she hears an ear piercing howl from outside.

She finds herself drawn to the window again, peering out and seeing the blonde wolf in thick of a transformation. The same long limbed wolf as before, coat dusty blonde with blue and pink in it’s mane; it raises on its powerful haunches before launching itself into the trees.

Of course she follows. Thing stays behind using ‘beauty rest’ as his excuse for being slothful. Not that she needs him for this.

He already bears the privilege of witnessing her first wolf out. On top of claiming he was too flustered to ‘remember all the bloody details.’ Wednesday had been more than a tad eager to get up close and personal with the wolf on her own time. And what perfect opportunity, after professing the urge to court said werewolf.

Its not the hardest thing to track such a large beast, but its more ground to cover than not after such a long sprint.

She comes across the wolf already facing her, like she had been waiting. Even in keeping her feet light on the ground as she did when her own father took her hunting. Though, she’s not dumb—she knew Enid’s superior hearing would catch her presence far before she appeared. It’s the fact that the wolf allowed her to catch up.

Enid wanted her to see.

“Sneaking out of bed to chase your tail I see,” Wednesday can’t help but quip. The wolf tilts its head at her, as she approaches with full confidence; she knew it wouldn’t hurt her. It had saved her life. “Overgrown mutt.”

It sounds more fond than she would like. However, its beyond her when the absolute puppy disguised as a hulking beast shoves its big head in her face. It nearly knocks her over, making her grunt and glare at her cheeky, monstrous roommate. She stabilizes herself with hands on both sides of her snout, looking into blue eyes that were familiar but not entirely. There was something there, like seeing her for the first time and recognition sparkling in large irises.

“Do not lick me.” Wednesday warned as she sees the wolf lick at it chops. “I would prefer to examine your fangs independent of the drool…and perhaps a muzzle on hand.”

(A blessing from the Moon herself. You may do as you wish.)

Wednesday pauses.

Her eyes narrow and she looks vigilantly over her shoulder. Her hand going to the inside of her jacket where she’d hastily tucked a few minor weapons, should the occasion call. However, in thorough inspection of the area and a healthy sniff of the air—she’s certain theres nothing in the vicinity that shouldn’t be.

(A natural hunter. The moon chose well for our pack.)

Wednesday hears the voice closer, like spoken directly into her ear; yet far enough that she cannot see or reach. She looks at Enid, frowning and incredulous but the wolf just looks at her expectantly.

“Excuse me?” She asks, as if offended. Incredibly befuddled; One may even call her genuinely surprised. Maybe she misheard—

(It is answers you seek. Is it not? Come.)

Wednesday’s eyes trace Enid’s unmoving face. Shrouded in pale fur that was tinted with highlights of color akin to her ‘natural’ color. The soft breaths from her pointed snout and the focus in her glowing, keen eyes like she’s…waiting for something.

Like a response.

She has a moment like deja vu very suddenly—a memory that wasn’t her own and a scene that had yet to play. Her vision, from back when Enid had called her full of nerves and holding a metaphorical invitations. The woods, the hunt—

The wolves. The way Enid’s rage was understood without verbalizing with her mouth.

“The Moon…” She murmurs, before looking to the sky. Its wide and glowing but not quite full yet. Although it was damningly close. “You’re wolfed out in spite of it not being at full visibility yet. This must be another one of your abilities as Blood Moon born wolf…am I correct? This is part of the ritual.”

(You are a clever girl. The Moon wills all and Selene watches…even if not in sight of your mortal eyes.)

And people call her cryptic and wordy.

“Enid—you are still Enid…correct?” Wednesday starts and stops herself upon absence of the bubbly girl’s voice. The beast in front of her didn’t even hold her disposition, sitting more sure on her hind paws than the girl that was whining and whimpering her fears a few hours ago. Her eyes narrow, “You don’t sound like Enid. And I’ve been subject to her grating spiels and exclamations of nauseating joy and excitement for long enough to know.”

(We are one in the same. Despite her insistence on hiding me—I have been here the whole time.)

“Explain.” Wednesday immediately demands, crossing her arms and tilting her chin up. Nevermind the height difference, or the way the wolf blinks and stares at her. “Your pack records are well detailed and even better kept in secret. And while I’m no stranger or fear in breaking and entering, I do believe I’ve been kept in the dark for far longer than even my nocturnal relatives could stand.”

(It is no fault of mine. I pleaded with her to tell you the truth, as our mate and future pack member. It was never my intention to wait, but my human half—she continued to deny the Moon and will of fate.)

Well, that would certainly explain…quite a few things, actually.

A majority if not all of Enid’s absent mindedness that somehow amounted to simultaneous mental turmoil. Her roommate consistently looked like she was having an internal battle, just in taking a step forward.

“I see. She must hear you pretty often, then.” Wednesday murmurs, mainly to herself. And in that very breath another important aspect clicks like a lock. “Figures. Enid is terribly optimistic and prone to day dreaming…but, this past week has been another thing entirely. The glazed over eyes, extended pauses between sentences, strange expressions and random outbursts that don’t pertain to the subject at hand…”

Enid had been keeping things from her; she knew this of course. However, measuring the extent was harder than not, even for an experienced sleuth. Werewolf lore was as exclusive as it was extensive.

“I had my doubts. Really, I assumed it to be some sort of werewolf quirk, but I hadn’t thought of such a cognitive marvel such as yourself.” Wednesday explains more clinically than anything, but still the wolf in front of her preens at what it takes as a compliment. She narrows her eyes, “And now that Enid is no longer ‘denying the Moon’ as you stated...thats why you’re here, isn’t it? And why I can hear you now as well?”

(It felt like a lifetime. Being dormant within my own vessel.)

Wednesday slows her pace as she follows the wolf, looking to her suspiciously. The beast’s steps were eerily quiet padding through brush and tree branches. The words carried weight of their own, along with her personal knowledge of a girl forlorn and looking over their balcony while howls sounded in the distance; without her.

“Enid was unable to transform upon our initial meeting. And yet here you are when the Moon isn’t even entirely full. Why?” She asks firstly, the wolf chuffing in thought.

(Many factors. Mainly fear—like shackles all over me. A cage.) The wolf shakes itself at memory of its claimed involuntary containment.

“I’d argue that Enid was no less frightened that night than the one in the Gates mansion. I’m sure you remember,” Wednesday reminds her. The catalyst to their first major conflict, when Enid left because the investigation and its consequences became far too much.

The wolf makes a disapproving noise.

(Was more angry at ourself. Knew we couldn’t protect us. Let you go…you shut us out. But, we could never stay away for long.)

Wednesday remembers more than a handful of extra stops to the dorm post moving out to ‘just pick up a few things’ while sneaking glances at her and her side of the room. Or the eyes she felt on her when she passed through the quad or their shared classes. The shirt that conveniently went missing, only to ‘suddenly’ return along with the wolf and her laundry.

(Very hard week for us. Missed you…missed your scent.)

If her face starts burning red, despite the fact that the night carried a slight breeze? There were far more important things to worry about.

“Disgusting displays of sentiment aside…” Wednesday clears her throat and bashfully keeps her head forward. She doesn’t want to look as flattered as the revelation made her feel. “That doesn’t answer why you waited. We were, assumedly at the time, in just as much if not more danger at the Gates mansion as well. I recall having to keep you quiet in the dumbwaiter.”

The wolf huffs, as if thinking on how to reply. Or, maybe it was merely letting the words settle in its dual brain—Enid was still in there too. Somewhere.

(Not the time. You wouldn’t have listened. Neither of you…but we would never have let you get hurt. Believe that.)

The words echo in her mind with a memory. An Enid that was suddenly not so friendly when it came to Tyler. Always suspicious and questioning, as if the boy had a bright flashing sign above him that read danger. And even if he did…Wednesday cannot deny that it wouldn’t have fascinated her more.

(Some lessons cannot be forced.)

That makes Wednesday snort, not particularly enjoying being psychoanalyzed by something she technically only just met.

“You’re entirely more cryptic than your other half. Perhaps you can learn from each other,” Wednesday quips. It makes the wolf huff, Enid’s offense shown physically in lieu of not being heard at the moment. It just makes the seer roll her eyes, “However, I find myself preferring Enid’s ramblings over playing literal mind games.”

(Clever and fiery you are.)

“Don’t sound so excited, mutt.” Wednesday half heartedly scolds her, but her wolf doesn’t see it that way. In fact, she feels the words reverberate through her like a command.

A challenge.

(Mutt?)

Her wolf parrots, aghast at their mate’s audacity. She lets out another howl, like a battle cry. Wednesday makes a face at the volume of it, Earth moving beneath them at the force. Enid feels the urge to sprint deep in her bones. It has her sliding back on her haunches, wordlessly prepared to take off like a bullet.

“Enid, what are you—”

(Stay here.)

Her wolf warns and the seer doesn’t immediately protest, but she doesn’t give it much time. The wolf is charging through the trees at full speed barely a second later.

And Enid’s familiar with letting go; she had been forced to do so all her life. If not, she’d coat it in glitter until she could stand to face it head on. There was nothing glittering about her current target, aside from the matching fangs. The twin creature on all fours, but an entirely different species. Not even a little bit human, the primal stalking extends to not only her but her much smaller mostly human mate.

(We must stand our ground. They may not be alone.)

Enid agrees, knowing pack mentality just as intimately as an animal would. She’s low to the ground and favoring her back legs. Prowling upon a bobcat that had wandered too close to home. Too close to Wednesday.

The big cat hisses at her, opening its jowls in warning. As if Enid was taking its dinner, or issuing a challenge for territory rather than protecting whats hers. It makes something snap in her; the implication of any harm towards her fated. Its much easier to listen to the wolf—to let go.

(You will make a fine engagement gift.)

Its one of the final conscious thoughts she has before her teeth break flesh. The resounding growls and thundering of heavy bodies crashing back into the Earth. Gnashing fangs and claws digging up dirt in the tussle. Enid feels a sick sense of satisfaction that was more than an out of body experience. Swipes at her muzzle and a snapping jaw at her back legs. The wolf was not human nor animal.

It was much faster. Much more tactile, her senses alight and target in clear sight in form of the jugular.

The sound of bones snapping—her teeth giving way with pressure.

She would shiver and cringe about it later. Right now it was making her tail wag, smug and proud of the way she’d not only killed her prey but protected her mate.

***

Wednesday doesn’t listen of course. She had followed her neurotic wolf this far and she would traverse the woods alone if it meant finding out more answers. Part of her regrets not bringing Thing, but she needed someone to stay behind and keep an eye on the Sinclair pack.

She follows Enid in memories. Touching the ground where she traversed, she could see an approximation of where she needed to turn or pivot. The vision was blurry and fresh, in paw prints that lead her down a well beaten path. She doesn’t have to use her powers for long, fortunately; the tell tale trot and chuffing of a wolf returning from its hunt approaches.

The seer pauses at the speed of it, narrowly dodging the hulking thing as it stops on a dime. Dust covers the immediate vicinity, making her shield her face with a sour look. She aught to scold the hyper active and far too large dog, but she quickly notes the carcass that sat motionless in its maw.

“Well, well, well,” Wednesday starts, amusement lacing her voice. Her eyes glint dangerously at sight of the dead animal, “Someone had a prosperous bathroom break, I see?”

The wolf chuffs again, nodding its head before dropping the bob cat to the ground. Wednesday watches with a brow cocked, before catching the way the wolf licks its chops after. It sits back and up, looking dutifully back at her.

(For you. A gift. A promise.)

Followed by a small but enthused sounding bark. Wednesday snorts at the display and how perhaps the wolf and the girl weren’t too far off after all. It was incredibly akin to the way her roommate had presented the hand made snood; wide and hopeful eyes that craved approval.

Granted, a bobcat had been something she was more inclined to keep in her collection for reasons other than courtesy…

“Exactly what I’ve been needing for my room back home,” Wednesday mused aloud. Tries not to sound as excited or smitten by the act of affection in blood as she most certainly is. “My parents will be pleased as well…mother likes the challenge of taxidermy when it comes to a messy kill. It adds to the process a certain…morbid uniqueness.”

(Soon we will need to formally introduce our kin to each other as well.)

That serves to kill her moment of joy in inspecting the dead animal. Now, she’s thinking about her own family and the fact that they’re going to be on her like a leech the second she touches back down on the East Coast. She purposefully left her crystal ball packed in her luggage for a reason.

“Trust, my family is already anticipating this just as much as your own pack. In fact, I’d argue the Addams affinity for such things are even worse—invasive. Sometimes internally so…” Wednesday trails, remembering her aunt Calamity who quite literally gave her beloved a life saving heart operation. Enid/The wolf looked briefly unsettled, but more so dedicated to the cause.

Like an eager pet being told a vet visit was imminent.

Wednesday worries that somehow the beast inherited more of Enid’s squeamish nature, as it becomes ansty where it sits.

“One of the few times I wish you could speak of your silly worries,” The seer jokes. Enid huffs in frustration, then noses at the carcass they had both been ignoring. It then looks at her expectantly. Wednesday stares back in challenge, “I don’t suppose you want me to carry it back?”

(The first taste is yours. It is custom. And you will need the strength later.)

Wednesday listens, but doesn’t immediately move to eat. She takes her time crouching to her knees, peaking up ever so often to catch the beady eyes of the all too expectant beast. The wolf’s tail thumped in eager anticipation, forcing her to dive in to where the skin was already split at the neck. The blood and flesh disguised the smile at how her wolf doted over her. The satisfaction renamed to feeding hunger with a midnight snack.

They make it back to the Sinclair household, both of them covered in blood. Enid with the carcass of a bobcat in her jaws and back end wagging proudly.

The wolf walked just slightly at lesser pace, as if she was expecting another threat. However, she knew the girl to simply be protective and monstrously vigilant. It had no regard for the fact that the Addams tended to keep weaponry on them like accessories; it wanted to be the knife that slayed her enemies. Wednesday’s only ever had one such deadly companion and protector and when it mattered most, she could not return that favor.

Never again, dear Nero. For Enid, she would never see her grave, unless it was plotted next to her own for eternity.

Said girl howls into the night as the approach the back deck. Encased in lunar light and nightly breeze. Dawn on the horizon, pupil’s grow and the body shrinks—contorts. Violently so as the wolf curls in on itself, body twitching and fur fading into pale skin and human limbs. Wednesday takes off her hoodie and preps it to drape over the girl the second she falls to her knees. Enid barely looks at her, rather, she looks through her with glazed over eyes.

“Thank you…” A tired smile, and then she was dead to the world as the partially eaten bobcat she dropped a few feet back. Wednesday caught her swiftly, thankful for the barrier of her jacket. The girl's modesty remained, even if her mind was lost to dreamland.

Wednesday takes in the peaceful look on her face; mouth slightly parted and breaths too soft to hear. Eyes closed and head tucked to the seer’s chest. If she had been awake, the thundering of her pulse would’ve likely alarmed the both of them. Its loud, but enough that she would miss the back door opening. Enid’s father stood curious, eyes darting about the yard and seeing the carcass first. Then, he sees the two of them and his eyes soften in understanding.

He breathes out in what looked like relief.

“Sorry to startle you two,” He nods with a soft look. He goes to the railing on the deck to get a better look at them, “I thought I heard howling out tonight. Just wanted to make sure one of the twins wasn’t stuck in a bear trap again.”

“Unfortunately not,” Wednesday replies. At Murray’s wary look, she changes the subject, “I followed her out…and its a good thing I did, too.”

They both look down at Enid’s softly snoring form. The night cold and especially without her jacket—Enid’s weight and presence kept her warm as a space heater. Murray watches them carefully as Wednesday lifts her.

“She’s the middle child—my only little girl. But…I fear we may have but more pressure on her than me and her mother probably realized.” Murray sighs at the end, rubbing his neck. “I know she’s worried about her brother. About everything that comes with being pack. I just…I wish she could see that we never gave up on her. Me, or her mother.”

Wednesday listens. But, its not her place to reply. Or accept.

“Perhaps you should make it known when she’s awake to hear it,” She replies simply. Feels Enid shift in her arms and cuddle closer into her. It makes her blow air from her nose, the way that even in sleep the girl knew how to meld her boundaries to fondness. Effortless as counting sheep.

Murray doesn’t say much more, merely nodding his head with a solemn look. Because he’s more than old enough to know.

He does aid her in getting Enid back to her bed. While she’s not weak, its not exactly an easy task to carry a girl full of fresh game up a flight of wooden steps. Still, Wednesday feels the need to follow close behind, as if there was a chance he’d drop her. It wouldn’t be the first time she witnessed the elder Sinclair drop the ball, so to speak. Where Enid felt unease, her Addams sense of loyalty in blood only felt distrust.

Wariness, because much like with Esther…she can’t fathom putting Enid down for no reason.

“She’s all tuckered out,” Murray says softly. He watches her, watching them; she stands slightly behind where he had leaned down to smoothe the hair on his daughter’s forehead. He looks at Wednesday in a familiar way, that naively hopeful look of a dog in the shelter waiting to be picked. Perhaps it was family resemblance. “You had a good hunt, then?”

He gestures to her with a shy smile. Wednesday remembers that she has blood on front of her shirt and probably dried around her mouth. On top of the dead animal likely still in the backyard.

“I plan on having an even more prosperous one,” She replies. Doesn’t miss a beat or allow a crack in expression. For some reason, Murray’s eyes dare to soften.

“Sorry,” He says after noting the way she tenses. “I’m just happy to see my pup with someone so eager to partake in our customs. I…I used to worry for her. Her peers accepting her with all of her quirks. Its not easy raising a child in this world.”

Wednesday wonders who he’s trying to convince.

“Yet, it was your choice to not use contraceptives.” She reminds him, somewhat satisfying in the way his eyes bug out. “It wasn’t easy for her either. While I was reared with a tight knit family of my own, the pack mentality was lacking. I knew how to demand and receive my own independence.”

Society didn’t matter enough to her to make her feel excluded, either. Her ego grown at home and inflated by experience. Enid had been solemn in her loneliness; like shackles indeed. Murray has a guilty look, but one that didn’t have any fight to it. He bounced his leg and looked to know this already. Like he was waiting for someone else to say it.

“I…I can’t thank you enough for being there for her. Accepting her.” He admits, eyes to the floor boards before he’s bold enough to make eye contact. “I could’ve been—I shouldn’t have been so…so tough on her. Now, I can’t change the past, but I can be here now that it counts. And I want to get to know you too…and your clan.”

“We are not a conventional bunch,” Wednesday warns rather than reassuring. “My family does not filter themselves or care to be understood by those who do not want to.”

The Addams didn’t know the word ‘respectability.’ Courtesy, mayhaps, but the definition likely varied. Murray doesn’t falter, nodding his head determinedly.

“Honestly…our pack isn’t exactly the most conventional one in the world either. And I regret trying to force it to be,” He says out loud. Like he’s coming to realizations in speaking with her. He scratches the back of his head, “Its hard enough getting us all together these days. The holidays have always been a tricky thing in the Sinclair household.”

“An Addams holiday is never a happy one. Nor merry—I suppose I could relate.” Wednesday shrugs, making Murray laugh albeit uneasily.

He twiddles his thumbs for a moment before he rises to his feet suddenly. He looks at her and nods his head.

“Come, I wanna show you something,” He prompts. At her standing still he adds, “I’m assuming neither of us are in the mood to go back to sleep anytime soon.”

Wednesday hesitates, but she follows. Regardless, she was in search of answers. And she would start with the elder Sinclair: both Enid’s father and older brother.

/

The Sinclair’s den was a far cry from the aesthetics of Enid’s bedroom. The family space more akin to that of the wolves that inhabited the body as well. The trophies from countless hunts, taxidermy and furs used like throw pillows. Wednesday could admire the technicality of it; outcast methods of preservation predated even the Egyptians. Ancient shifters and even the ones of the modern day had a meticulous hand and attention to detail was more than merely human.

Her parents had a few pieces back at the manor from such sources. The comparison to a human taxidermist was like night and day.

That wasn’t the point of her venture down the steps, however.

“Welcome to the Sinclair pack den!” Murray announced with enthusiasm, but not volume as to not disturb the other tenants so early. Wednesday had eyed the six of the hour hand briefly on the way down the steps. They had passed by a grumbling and pajama clad twin on the way as well.

His smart remark of ‘of course bat-girl has dad up at the ass crack of dawn’ was answered with a foot stuck out to trip.

Now, they stood in the dim room, illuminated by a tacky light fixture with a fur hide lamp shade and the rising sun breaking clouds.

“The amount of taxidermy rivals one of my uncles that lives off grid in the Rocky Mountains.” She mused with arms crossed and a keen eye. She wished she had her magnifying glass, but she’s not at all inept at reading dead things. Embalming was practically in her blood. “I can tell some of these are vintage.”

“Family heirlooms. I have my first kill over by the desk here,” Murray nods at a rabbit’s foot. It was like a make shift key chain, hanging off a picture frame. It had a picture of a young couple–-likely him and Esther in their prime from how familiar the pair looked. It was odd seeing the two of them younger and smiling. Carefree. The elder Sinclair laughs to himself, “I was scared to death of choking and losing the trail—whole time it was even more scared of me! Chased it for a good few feet before I cornered it…I keep the boys stuff lined up over there.”

He proudly points her to the wall that held differing animal hides with child like signatures next to each. She can’t help but notice a name missing.

“And Enid?” Wednesday prompts, partially accusatory but more so curious. Especially due to Murray looking more sheepish than guilty. He looks behind him for a moment, mouth opening as he chooses his words with her. Her gaze doesn’t let, either.

“She…she said she wasn’t ready to add to it quite yet.” Murray answers after a while. He looks contemplative, rubbing his beard, “Although…that was a very clean kill she left out back.”

“Her wolf is just as, if not even more excitable. However, killing is instinctive. Not everyone has the ability,” Wednesday muses. “And the kill was already promised to my clan. Perhaps this alleged pack initiation will prove to be more fruitful.”

Murray smiles, blowing amused air from his nose. Wednesday not so subtly laying claim on her wolf; not that the seer would ever call it that. It was merely honoring what Enid had already decided.

The kill was hers.

Enid would kill for her. Lay her life on the line in the same breath.

It’s with that thought held to her chest that she goes back to Enid’s room to check on her. She walks in on the younger Sinclair curled up and hugging the pillow she had been sleeping on. Thing at foot of the bed and dead to the world.

Wednesday rolls her eyes at him and adjusts Enid’s blanket before going to prepare to meet the former pack leader. Starting with another adjustment of her bow.