He was running. The moon was high in the sky, and the forest had returned to its mystical side. His feet crushed the dead leaves that strewed the ground, without making any noise. A successful feat thanks to his wolf instincts and years of training.
Usually, the comfort of the speed from his running was normally enough to clear his head of dark thoughts. The smell of the wilderness comforted him and made him happy. But it would seem that today nothing can console him.
He looked back on that day over and over again, his brows furrowed and his mouth in a murderous grimace. His wolf wanted to emerge, show his discontent, challenge this male who had dared to touch what did not belong to him. And at the same time, he wanted to bury himself deep in his soul, miserable and broken, to see his soul mate happy with someone other than himself.
Wyatt suddenly stopped, right in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, and bowed his head. His fists clenched, digging his claws into the palms of his hands. His wolf was moaning, trying to comfort him, when him himself was not feeling well. They both knew what it meant.
If he didn't mark her soon, they would die. But they couldn't wrest happiness from the young girl with the beautiful snowy hair. They just couldn't.
Wyatt fiercely wiped away a tear that had finally passed the barrage of his eyes, and was playing freely on his cheek. He eventually turned to the full moon, and howled his soul, his pain and his despair. He knew that his pack was sure to hear him, and that Willa was going to ask him for explanations he didn't feel ready to provide. How could he tell his sister that he might die soon, no matter how hard they tried to find their Moonstone? He could not.
Three months have passed since the Prawn, and it has been both the sweetest and the most horrible for him. Addison came to their den almost every day, played with the little ones, and chatted with the older ones. She was hungry for knowledge and asked a whole bunch of questions, which he answered as best as he could. Willa and Wynter had also taken her under their wing, and several times he had found the three girls chatting and laughing. He was so happy to see his sister and best friend so happy, and he owed it to his personal angel.
He spent as much time as possible with her, touching her arm, cheek, hugging her. She only smiled, always returning her affection, before returning to play with the pups, or chat with Willa. And he continued to stay close to her, as close as she would allow him to be. And that was enough for him.
Until it was no longer enough for him.
His wolf was moving more and more, knowing that his soulmate was very close, without being able to mark her. It was imperative for him to do it, and he couldn't understand why Wyatt wasn't doing it. And Wyatt felt it. He knew that the patience of his wild side would soon run out, and that he was going to wither away little by little.
But how do you tell Addison that his whole life depended on her? He couldn't put such a weight on her shoulders. She had given them enough already. He couldn't ask her to sacrifice her happiness for him too. Because Zed made her happy. It showed like the nose in the middle of the face.
He ends up collapsing on the ground. He couldn't stand up anymore. He couldn't stand this emptiness in his mind, in his soul, anymore. This void that could only be filled by his snow-haired angel. He lay down completely, closing his eyes, and waiting for death to finally come and hug him.
Except that it was not planned for this time.
He returned to his den, avoiding the worried looks from Willa and Wynter, and locked himself in his room. He neither wanted nor could face them today. The next day he was in class, and he needed courage and energy to be able to face Addison without her noticing.
She was not to notice anything.
The next day, Willa hugged him without saying a word, and Wynter kissed him on the cheek in support. They didn't know what was going on, Wyatt had been careful not to let it show, but his family always knew when he was hurt. He smiled at them, and put an arm behind their shoulders, before entering Seabrook High School. He laughed when Wynter scared some humans a little too comfortable with them, and groaned when Willa reminded him once again that he was the little brother, despite the fact that they were twins. Bree arrived with Bonzo and Eliza, and they continued to chat happily. Neither of them saw Addison arrive, looking worried and unhappy. Except Wyatt. He watched as she walked across the hall to the football field. He saw the small gesture of her hand towards her face, knowing that a tear must have fallen.
He pulled away from the group, sending Willa a smile, and followed the cheerleader to the stands. He swore after losing sight of her, and closed his eyes, trying to spot her by hearing and smell. He spun around, and opened his eyes to catch her floral scent… a wild lily. He was facing the bleachers, and eventually saw a flash of rose behind. He approached slowly, and passed behind, to arrive at the back of the young girl.
"Addison?"
She jumped, and quickly wiped her eyes, but the salty smell of tears still trailed in the air. She turned around quickly, and gave him a forced smile. "Wyatt! What are you doing here ?"
"I was looking for you. You didn't look well…"
He internally swore in his almost shy tone. He was the Beta of the pack! He radiated confidence and positivity to counter the strict Willa. He was not shy! He straightened up, framing his shoulders, and smiled.
"I thought maybe you wanted to talk about it? I'm here for you if you need a listening ear."
Addison's smile grew more sincere, and Wyatt's wolf howled in happiness at his mate. She pulled back to lean against a beam, and he walked over to her, invading her personal space. He took her in his arms and stroked her beautiful white hair. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.
She might not be the Grand Alpha, but she was still his Addison.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company.
"Zed broke up."
Wyatt stopped his caresses for a second, before resuming them. "Ah?"
"He wants to focus on his football career, and I'm really happy for him to have found his dream! But…"
"But you love him, and you wished you had another solution."
She sighed. Wyatt rested his chin on her head, and hugged her a little tighter. "That's the worst part. I don't even know if I liked him or if it was just a high school crush. How could I love him when… I'm lost, I don't know what to think."
She stopped talking, blushing as she looked away from him a little, and despite his curiosity, Wyatt didn't bother to find out more.
"You're still young, Addison. Can we really talk about true love at seventeen? You will find someone else. Someone better. You still have life in front of you to test, to see what you like or not, to become the woman you want to become. Zed doesn't know what he gave up, believe me, but in the end, he's the one who will bite his fingers when he sees you happy in someone else's arms."
Preferably mine.
He felt Addison smile against his shoulder, and squeeze her waist a little tighter against her, before releasing completely. Wyatt was sad to have lost contact, but agreed to step back a few inches.
"Thanks, Wyatt. I needed to hear that."
"You will be sad for a few weeks, then you will understand that despite everything, you have learned something from this experience, and you will be ready for a new adventure."
They smiled at each other, before Wyatt froze and coughed violently. He doubled over, feeling his wolf grow more and more restless. He was yelling at him to take her right away and make her his own. The zombie was no longer there to put a damper on him. But Wyatt couldn't yet. It was not the moment.
"Wyatt? Wyatt!"
Addison collapsed over the ground next to him, and stroked his face, asking him a thousand times what was wrong, what she could do to help him. Wyatt was blown away at how easily she had forgotten her own problems and focused on him. And subconsciously, he hated himself to see her so agitated and worried. Addison's eyes must only be bright with happiness, and her lips stretched into a beaming smile.
Or pose on his own. A choice.
- Wyatt! Am I calling Willa or Wynter?
She started pulling out her cell phone, ready to lead the thought into action, but the werewolf grabbed it, shaking his head.
"No, it will pass, do not worry…" he finally whispered.
"What? But…"
"Addison, please. Just… stay with me? Your presence helps…"
The young girl did not waste a second, slumping for good on the lawn, not paying attention to the grass that might stain her clothes, and with one hand, pulled his wrist up. His head is found resting on her knees. She then began to run her fingers through his hair, slowly humming the song he had taught her months before when she first came to their den. Wyatt closed his eyes, and just breathed in the scent of his beloved, as much as he could. The first bell rang, but neither of them rose.
Addison continued to hum. His wolf had calmed down, for the first time in months. He groaned with pleasure, and had coiled in a corner of his mind to enjoy his companion's affection.
He finally fell asleep, happy.
A whispered conversation woke him up, but he didn't open his eyes right away. He was so comfortable and rested. It had been so long since he slept so well that he wanted to enjoy it a little longer.
"… don't know. He doubled over and started to cough, like before you got the Moonstone. "
"What an idiot. Why didn't he say anything before?"
Willa. She must have picked him up when he hadn't shown up to class. She had whispered so low that only Wyatt's keen ears could tell her.
"I thought you could not get sick, now that you have the stone?"
"Normally no."
"So why is it so bad?"
Wyatt could sense the frustration in the cheerleader's voice, and he had only one urge, to take her and lead her away from whatever was bothering her. But she continued her caresses, and he really didn't want to move.
"There are other reasons that can lead to illness and then death of a wolf, Addison. Moonstone is not the only one."
"I don't understand."
"Ask my stupid brother, then. Wyatt, I know you're awake."
He groaned, and opened his eyes to see Addison's face inches from his, smiling. He smiled back at her, and didn't move. Except that Willa was still there.
"I can not believe it. So that's why… Wyatt."
He looked up at his sister, and gave her a sad smile, and she looked away for a moment, closing her eyes to regain her composure. Then she opened them with a hard gaze.
"You have to tell her. It's not fair to you or her. She deserves to know the truth."
Then she left. Wyatt sighed. Thanks Willa. Now he won't be able to escape Addison's questions.
"Wyatt? What does she mean by that?" Asked the young girl.
The werewolf avoided his gaze and finally stood up. He had his back to her, but heeded the emotions on her face.
"Werewolves are practically invincible. There aren't a lot of things that can kill us. Money is one of them. It burns us and poisons us. A completely discharged moonstone too. Without it, we simply turn off."
"I know all that."
"Another thing that can make a wolf mad to the point of death is when his soul mate rejects him."
Silence fell behind him. Addison had held her breath long enough to process the data.
"Your soulmate rejected you?" She finally whispered.
He gave a bitter laugh. "She doesn't even know she's my mate. She's living her life, happy, and I watch her, capturing those moments, holding them to my heart, because I know she will never accept me. And I'd rather die than take away the choice of being happy with whomever she wants."
Addison was still silent, surely looking for the right words to tell her that he is right, that he does not have the right to walk in her life.
"But you don't even give her a choice."
Wyatt sharply turned his head towards her. It was absolutely not the answer he expected. Addison's air was determined, she was sure she was right and she would stop at nothing to convince Wyatt. He smiled at that expression. It was the one she had when she came to help them at the power plant against the demolition team. He had found her beautiful that day, and she still was today, her moonstone still around her neck.
"How can she make a choice, if she doesn't even know she has one?"
She gave him a smile, although it didn't seem to light up her eyes like it always did. On the contrary, she looked a little sad, as if Addison had resigned herself to something.
"Go talk to her, tell her how you feel about her, and let her make her choice."
She gave him one last smile, before getting up, dusting her skirt, and headed back to school. As for Wyatt, he was speechless, then smirked. She didn't seem to have guessed that he was talking about her and he intended to do it right.
He finally had a chance.
His day passed in the most complete fog, his thoughts dotted with angelic voices and snowy hair. Addison was right, and tonight he would tell her.
He was waiting for her at the end of school. She was talking with Bree and Eliza, and looked up at him as she felt his gaze on her. He smiled at her and waved her over. She said goodbye to her friends, Bree chuckling when she saw him, while Eliza just gave a 'You hurt her I'll kill you' look. But the only one he saw was his soulmate walking towards him, all smiles.
"Hey Wyatt."
She gets close enough to give him a hug. Wyatt wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. Until she suddenly pulls away. Finally, to get away as far as the werewolf's arms would allow her.
"Oh ! Sorry. I imagine your soulmate wouldn't like to see you hug another girl."
If Wyatt hadn't been staring at her at the time, he surely would have missed the flash of sadness that crossed her blue eyes. But since his face was only ten inches from her, he didn't miss it, and his wolf stirred, wanting to know what was wrong with his mate, wanting to lick her cheek as a sign of comfort before kidnapping her to be safe with him.
"Don't worry, Addison. She won't have any problem with that."
"Are you sure ?"
Addison bit her lip worriedly. Wyatt wanted more than anything to be the one biting it, that lip. Instead, he placed a hand on her face, thumb on her lip, stroking her until Addison released it, red as a tomato.
"Trust me."
She then gave him one of her bright smiles, and placed herself back in his arms. His wolf calmed down, happy to find his mate. They stayed like that for a while, before Wyatt finally let go, keeping only her hands in his. Addison frowned and pouted a little, and he could feel her urge to return to his arms. He smirked at her, saw her roll her eyes, then smiled, blushing.
It was at this precise moment of floating that his wolf decided to take control. Before he even knew what he was doing, he found himself leaning over Addison's face, millimeters from her lips. He looked up at hers, seeing her surprise.
And he saw no rejection, which made his wolf howl with happiness.
He leaned in a bit more, and saw her holding her breath. He lifted his eyes to hers one last time, before closing them and finally pressing his lips to hers.
He felt her take a deep breath, freeze, before relaxing in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he tightened his grip around her waist, gently nibbling her lower lip, as he wanted to do earlier. She moaned against his mouth, surrendering a little more in his embrace. He took the opportunity to kiss her more deeply. His goal ? Let her be so saturated with his scent that everyone will know she was his.
They finally parted, panting. Addison looked like a cat taken by surprise, and he looked like a wolf that had eaten a canary. She blushed and looked away, and Wyatt watched as she put her thoughts back. She ended up turning abruptly.
"Why did you kiss me? What if your soulmate had seen us? I don't want you to suffer Wyatt!"
The werewolf remains silent, speechless. She couldn't be so blind…
"Addison."
She stopped talking, and looked back on him, her eyes widening in surprise. He didn't know what she saw in his, but her features softened, and she rested her hands on his shoulders.
"Idiot. Why didn't you tell me earlier?" she whispered.
"You were with Zed, and happy. I'd rather know you are happy, even at the cost of my life. I couldn't make you choose. I know you would have followed me if you knew my life was in danger. And I just couldn't."
She shook her head.
"One of the reasons Zed broke up was because he felt I was doubting our relationship. He felt that I was no longer happy with him. He wanted to give us to be happy each on our own".
Wyatt's wolf stirred and moaned in pain. His mate didn't like him. Wyatt lowered his head, and let go of Addison's waist. He didn't see her frown or take a step closer, wrapping her arms around his chest.
"Addison?"
He automatically wrapped his own arms around her, marveling at how her tiny body aligned perfectly with hers.
"I think I fell in love with you, Wyatt," she whispered, her eyes closed, her cheek pressed to his shoulder.
Wyatt took a second to understand what she had just said, before hugging her even tighter.
"I've always loved you, Addison. Since that first day in the forest."
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears of happiness, sadness for all this wasted time, pain for Wyatt, who had suffered months for her. Wyatt saw it all in her eyes, before they closed them, and met again in a soft kiss.
Behind them, Wynter and Willa were smiling, before disappearing into the trees surrounding the school.