After Ever After ~ Addison's Story

Part 4

"What happened?!" Wynter rushed to my side as soon as Wyatt laid me down on the rock in the middle of the wolf den.

"She tripped and broke her ankle," Wyatt said, grimacing as he attempted to take away more of my pain.

"Wyatt, I'm fine, please stop trying to take the pain away. You're going to kill yourself if you're not careful." I tried to shove his hand away but his grip was too strong for me to budge.

"I'll heal, you won't," he said through clenched teeth.

"Not if you die," Wynter interjected, "here, I'll take over." She put her hand over his and pushed him away before taking his spot.

"Where's Willa?" Wyatt asked, urging for something to do that would help my situation.

"I don't know," Wynter's voice rose a few decibels as the siphoned the pain. "She left soon after you did, I think she was trying to look for you."  

Wynter was no match for my strength, I pushed her hand away with ease. "Guys, please stop, I'm fine."

"You have a broken ankle, don't tell me you're fine!" Wyatt snapped.

I flinch back and scoot away from him. The movement sparks more pain, causing me to wince as I try to catch myself from sliding off the rock.

Wyatt looks at me with horror in his eyes, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you." He walks gingerly towards me, like a dog with its tail between its legs when it know's it did something bad. "Here, let me at least take the pain away for you." He goes to put his hand back on my ankle but I smack it away. 

"I'm fine," I say through gritted teeth. I'm always the problem, but I won't be an inconvenience any longer. "Wynter, a little help?" I get up and attempt putting as little weight as possible by leaning on Wynter as I limp out of the wolf den.

"Addison, I'm sorry," he called after us, even though he knew I wouldn't turn back or change my mind.

"He's just trying to help, ya know," Wynter whispers to me once we're out of earshot.

"I know," I huffed, "but I don't need his help. I just need to find my pack."

"We can be your pack, Addy, at least until you figure out what you really are," she has this sense of hope coating her voice.

"I won't fit in," I shake my head as we reach the opening of the wolf den.

"Of course you'll fit in. You might not be a werewolf, but we still consider you one of us."

"Willa doesn't. I heard her in the forest." I flash back to what she said when she didn't know I was listening. She isn't one us. I don't know why you're so set on finding her.

"Willa was and is still intimidated by you. When Wyatt thought you were the Great Alpha, she was scared, because that means you would be - essentially - taking her spot in the pack, only you would be much more powerful," she shrugged her right shoulder as we slowed to a stop outside of the wolf den. 

We carefully lower to the ground so we can sit without irritating my ankle any more than it already is.

"She likes you. But she can tell Wyatt has a crush on you, too, so she was just trying to keep him from getting hurt by not letting him look for you and possibly not find you. Or worse." She grimaced at the last part.

"What did you say about Wyatt?" I ask, too shocked to believe it after it being said out loud the first time.

"He has a crush on you?" She ended it as a question, as if she was unsure that was what I was talking about.

"Yeah, how does she know that?"

"You don't see it?" She asks.

I shake my head, "no, I don't."

"He cares about you, a lot. That's how he could take so much pain from you. I can take on a load of pain, but he can absorb all of it for you. I'm sure if he tried hard enough he could transfer the injury onto himself. The way he looked at you when you weren't paying attention at school was like his eyes were replaced with hearts. I honestly had a bet with Willa that he would try to kiss you after cheer practice that day," her voice was soft with sincerity as she went on to describe how Wyatt acted around me.

I laugh at the last part, "so, who lost the bet?"

"I did," she chuckled with me.