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It had been five days, five hours, twenty minutes, and forty-one seconds since Enid transformed, since she risked being trapped that way forever, just to save her. Four days, five hours, twenty minutes, and fifty seconds since she’d cornered Miss Capri, demanding to know how to bring Enid back once she found her. And three days, five hours, and twenty-one minutes since she’d begun the hunt with Uncle Fester at her side.
Since they crossed the Canada border the day before, her uncle had insisted on going to visit a long lost cousin that lived in that forest, arguing that they could help them track her best friend. The idea infuriated Wednesday. Enid asked her to be the one to come get her, to be the one who could bring her back. The sole reason she’d allowed Fester along was that he happened to be the designated driver.
As she tried to read through the chaos of her uncle’s reckless driving, a slip of paper caught her eye. She managed to snatch it before it could flutter away. The handwriting was unmistakable Miss Capri’s. A frown creased her face at the implications. If Capri had truly told her she didn’t know how to bring Enid back, then someone else had been listening. Thing had been on her shoulder at the time, silent witness to every word. Now, safely tucked away in her bag, the hand could offer no interruptions. She unfolded the note, already planning to destroy it once she was finished.
Her wolf has imprinted on you. You must be alone and allow her to find you. From that moment on, you’ll have to trust her instincts.
Sincerely,
Miss Capri
P.S. Bring clothing at least twice her usual size.
After ripping the note and letting the pieces go with the wind, Wednesday spent the twenty minutes that it took for uncle Fester to stop in front of a cabin made of wood in the middle of the forest thinking about what that affirmation implied. It was one thing for Enid to call her pack. It was something entirely different for her wolf to have imprinted on her.
It meant Enid had chosen her as a mate, a partner for life. And, to her own surprise, Wednesday realized she was not entirely opposed to the idea.
Her thoughts shattered as the cabin door flew open with a crash. A towering man filled the doorway, eyes bloodshot, hair and beard wild with years of neglect. He leveled a shotgun at them without a word.
“That’s how you greet family?” Fester asked, far too cheerful for someone staring down a shotgun. “I was expecting land mines.”
“Fester?” the man muttered, lowering the weapon. His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”
“Young love,” Fester said breezily, gesturing toward her. “This is Gomez’s offspring Wednesday. She’s tracking down her werewolf.”
“And you want my help,” the man guessed, stepping closer to Wednesday.
“I’m perfectly capable of finding her on my own,” Wednesday cut in coldly. “Fester is the one who insisted we come here.”
“Well, come in then. Name’s Lucius,” he said, introducing himself as he grabbed their bags and carried them into the cabin.
Despite its humble appearance, the wooden cabin was surprisingly well kept. The furniture, though sparse, was spotless, and the candle lanterns lining the walls bathed the room in a steady, amber glow.
“Please, make yourselves comfortable,” Lucius said. “You must be tired after such a long drive. Wednesday, you’re welcome to use the bed if you’d like.”
A light nod was all that was needed for Lucius to leave her bag in the single bedroom. She wasn’t going to need it, anyways. Her plan was to sneak out, with a single backpack to carry the clothing for Enid, that night and get lost in the forest for her werewolf to find her.
So she waited, and she found herself growing impatient by every minute that passed. While Lucius and Fester went out to hunt some dinner, while they cooked it, she wasn’t even able to write.The blank page stared back at her, mocking her for the hour she wasted.
Finally, when everything was quiet despite the sound of the forest during the night, Wednesday opened the door of the room as quietly as possible. On her bag, besides the tools that she’ll need to survive in the wilderness, were some pants and a flannel shirt that she grabbed from the room’s closet.
So intent on reaching the depths of the forest, she failed to notice that only her uncle lay sprawled on the floor in a drunken sleep. Her mistake became clear the moment she opened the back door.
Lucius sat by the fire outside, a glass in hand, savoring a drink of his own making, potent enough to keep Fester unconscious until noon.
“You knew,” Wednesday said flatly.
“I too once sought my mate,” Lucius began, eyes fixed on the fire, unblinking. “Many years ago, shortly after your parents’ wedding. But the hunters caught him before we ever had the chance to be together. That’s why I live here now, to hunt them down, to rid this forest of as many as I can.”
A single tear traced its way through his beard before he downed the rest of his drink and rose to his feet. From his pocket, he produced a small pouch filled with berries and fragrant herbs, pressing it into her hand.
“Keep this in your bag. It’ll mask my scent. That way, she’ll find you faster.”
“Thank you,” Wednesday said, slipping the pouch into her pack. “And when he wakes up?”
Lucius gave a wry smile. “Don’t worry about it. Go get your girl.”
With a steady nod, Wednesday let her feet carry her into the depths of the forest, the full moon casting a silver path through the darkness. Fear never crossed her mind; she knew that the moment Enid sensed her, she would come.
After no more than an hour’s walk, the trees parted to reveal a hidden waterfall, its crystal water cascading into a lake that shimmered with the moon’s reflection.
Without hesitation, she shed her clothes and stepped into the water, welcoming the way the cold stabbed at her skin like needles. It had been far too long since she’d indulged in a proper bath, days on the road had left a film of discomfort she despised.
The lake proved shallow, rising only to just beneath her chest. She unbound her braids, sinking once beneath the frigid surface before emerging again. Then she let herself drift on her back, pale and still, floating like a corpse on the Ganges.
A low growl shattered the quiet, pulling her upright in the middle of the lake. Her hair clung to her, shielding what the water did not, as she fixed her gaze on the beast, her mate, watching her like prey. Though the water around her was icy, heat began to bloom beneath her skin.
Blood streaked Enid’s snout, her sharp canines glinting in the moonlight. They stood locked in stillness, blue and black eyes meeting across the distance, each daring the other to make the first move.
In the end, it was Wednesday who moved first. She waded toward the creature, each step deliberate. Enid, or the wolf, remained seated at the water’s edge, allowing her approach. When she reached her, Wednesday raised her arms and cradled as much of the wolf’s head as she could, fingers sinking into the thick fur. She pulled gently, pressing a kiss to her snout and smearing her lips with blood.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered, as if the wrong volume might drive her away. “ Cara mia .”
Something shifted instantly. Enid’s wolf brightened, tail wagging furiously as she smothered Wednesday in sloppy, overjoyed licks. The onslaught sent her tumbling into the water with a resounding splash. For once, Wednesday laughed, an unrestrained sound at the sight of her werewolf bouncing in the lake like an overgrown puppy.
Eventually, the chaos gave way to calm. They climbed from the lake, dripping and shivering, and Wednesday retrieved a towel and blanket from her pack. She dried herself, then set the blanket on the ground before toweling Enid as best she could. The wolf curled atop the blanket, leaving just enough space for Wednesday to settle half on top of her. The warmth radiating from Enid’s body was immediate, seeping into her bones. For the first time in what felt like forever, Wednesday surrendered to sleep, cocooned in a heat she welcomed without resistance.
---------------------
Wednesday woke disoriented, sunlight striking her face and the weight of something pressing down on her chest. Blinking against the brightness, she caught the familiar curl of blonde-dyed hair and, despite herself, allowed a small smile.
At some point during the night, Enid had shifted back into human form. Now their legs were tangled together, and strong arms cinched tight around her waist. The note from Miss Capri came back to her with sudden clarity, Enid had indeed grown. Her frame seemed almost doubled in size, muscles more defined, her height now close to five foot eight.
“Enid,” Wednesday said, giving her shoulder a firm push. “Enid, I need to relieve myself.”
“Five more minutes,” Enid murmured, tightening her embrace.
Wednesday exhaled a long-suffering sigh before pinching Enid sharply in the ribs. The reaction was immediate, Enid yelped and jolted upright.
“Ow! What–?” Her voice cut off as awareness dawned, her eyes widening at the realization of exactly where, and with whom, she lay.
In her scramble to put distance between herself and a very naked Wednesday, she miscalculated how close they were to the lake. With a splash, she toppled straight into the freezing water.
Unruffled, Wednesday had already anticipated the chaos. She gathered her discarded clothes from the night before and dressed with unhurried precision.
“There are clothes for you in the bag,” she said evenly, fastening the last button. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Okay,” Enid muttered to the already retreating figure of Wednesday, watching her vanish between the trees.
She let herself drift for a moment, floating on the lake’s surface. The water had to be freezing, yet she barely felt it, her blood ran too hot now, refusing to chill.
Clambering out, she tried to stand, her legs shaky beneath her. Too much time spent in wolf form left her own limbs feeling foreign, clumsy. Add to that the sudden height and muscle she’d gained, and it was as if she’d stumbled into a second puberty.
After drying off with the towel, she dug into the bag Wednesday had pointed out. The clothes hung a little loose on her new frame, but it was better than nothing.
Rummaging through the bag, Enid grabbed a couple of energy bars, devouring them in a single bite. It didn’t fully satisfy her hunger, but it would keep her going until they could have a proper breakfast.
When she spotted Wednesday approaching, her heart skipped a beat. She was grateful to be sitting, otherwise, her knees might have betrayed her. The raven-haired girl calmly folded the towel and blanket, sliding them back into the bag with methodical precision.
“There’s a cabin not far from here,” Wednesday said. “Fester and Thing are there with another family member. I reckon they’re waiting for us.”
“Wait… shouldn’t we talk?” Enid asked, her voice hesitant.
“About what?”
“About last night… about us… about what to do.”
Wednesday let out a long, deliberate sigh. Dropping the bag, she opted for the direct approach, settling squarely on Enid’s lap.
“Wha… what are you doing?” Enid stammered, panic flaring as she lifted her hands like she was being held at gunpoint.
“Listen to me, because I’m not repeating myself,” Wednesday said, grabbing Enid’s face with her hands. “You saved my life at the risk of never being human again, had me endure my uncle’s driving for days, and got me wandering through an unknown forest at night with the hopes that you might find me. You’re mine just as much as I’m yours, so don’t overthink it and come home with me.”
Enid froze, utterly speechless. A love confession from Wednesday was the last thing she expected. Words failed her, so she did the only thing she could. She lunged forward, pressing her lips to Wednesday’s with all the love she’d been holding inside.
At first, the kiss was tentative, a gentle press of lips. But as moments passed, it grew bolder, more insistent. What began as tenderness and affection quickly gave way to a raw, desperate need. Their mouths parted slightly, tongues meeting in a heated, unrelenting struggle for dominance.
Breaking apart for air, Enid shifted her focus to Wednesday’s neck. She could feel her own body responding, her senses sharpening, her wolf stirring within. A primal voice echoed in her mind: Mine. Mark. Claim.
She opened her mouth, canines elongated, ready to mark the perfect pale neck, when suddenly the sound of her stomach growling, demanding much more food, stopped her dead in her tracks. Frozen in place, she let out a small whine and buried her face in the crook of Wednesday’s neck, utterly embarrassed.
“Come one,” Wednesday said, getting up on her feet and extending her hand to help Enid get up from the floor. “Let’s get you food.”
Enid followed happily, her steps matching Wednesday’s as if drawn by an invisible thread. She couldn’t wait to begin this new life, side by side with her mate.