ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛ

you think i'm small?

addie. she hadn’t been called addie in a long, long time. the sound of it hit somewhere fragile, somewhere buried so deep beneath hunger and death and all the ugly things she’d become that she thought it had rotted away with the rest of her. adelaide closed her eyes and drew in a careful breath, but her face still twisted with emotion before she could stop it.  “i have missed you so, so much,” she said, voice breaking around the shape of it. “i’m sorry.” he took a step closer, and she sucked in another breath before closing the rest of the distance herself, pulling him into her arms. he was taller than her now, and somehow that hurt too – another reminder of all the time they wouldn’t get back, all the years she hadn’t been there to watch him become this version of himself. the itch stirred in her chest, quiet and cruel, but all she could think about was the sound of his heartbeat. he was here. in front of her. alive. she’d never known if he’d managed to escape death that night.  maybe he hadn’t been home, but she hadn’t heard from him. hadn’t seen him. of course, she ran, but the whispers didn't bring his name to her. the fact that they had somehow ended up in the orbit of the same person felt impossible, almost merciful. perhaps there was some being out there that did wish for them to have a second chance. her fingers caught tightly in the fabric of his shirt, tears soaking into it as she shook her head. “i’m sorry,” she whispered. “i shouldn’t have left you.”

the alarm bells that had been going off inside of his head earlier were silent as soon as she stepped forward and pulled him into her embrace. her scent isn't the same and there's no longer a wolf that can be sensed, but peace still washes over him. his shoulders relax as he rests his chin on top of her head, pressing a kiss to her hair. it's weird, being taller than her now, but so much time had passed since he had last seen her - it was bound to happen.

"it's okay. it's okay. we're okay." he's quick to soothe her. even if it wasn't smart, there was no way he was losing her again, not when he had just gotten her back. so many years had been spent mourning the loss of her and their parents. how badly he wished that he had been there, to die alongside his family. instead, he's been haunted ever since.

Sedona didn’t like his tone, but his scent was even worse. What was that? He didn’t have the same musk, soured by something she couldn’t quite put a finger on. What was he? His warning didn’t bring her any concern, more so annoyance at the notion when it was her that stood vulnerable to the elements. A breeze chilling against bare skin and their eyes boring holes into the male’s stern expression. “Where does it say that? I don’t see a sign,” they retorted with a snap behind their voice. This was sanctuary to them, a place to run where the promise of pitchforks and pandemonium was left in the lore of generations past. She needed this, so she wouldn’t be going down easily or at least without a fight. “I’m pretty sure this is public land.” Maybe a few kilometers off but enough that he had no need to be up in arms. Territorial, to say the least, and Sedona wasn’t in the mood to budge. They’d only converted back into their own skin moments before, exhausted from the metamorphosis and withholding a hunger they couldn’t act upon.

“If you’re going to make me leave you can at least turn the fuck around and give me a shred of decency,” Sedona growled softly, fighting the animal clawing at her chest. If he’d come moments earlier it might’ve been a different story — an outcome neither were pleased with. “Do you always have a stick this big up your ass or am I just lucky?” Their t-shirt was tugged on first, followed by an oversized flannel. At least then they were given some sort of coverage.

“again, you have no proof of that. perhaps i’m only inviting you in and out of the sun so i don’t have a mess to clean later. i’m not fond of messes.” all wren did was grin in response. roman sounded confident in his response, but it only made wren frown, expression shifting to match his. his eyes narrowed, and after a beat, he pulled his sunglasses off, looking roman up and down like that might give him the answer he wanted. the beast in his chest was still bristling from the growl earlier, even if the only reason roman had made the sound in the first place was because wren had invaded his space. details, honestly. “yeah? with wolfgang?” a beat passed, his head tilting. “the whole night?” wren kept his distance, but he sniffed the air again, brows pulling together. then, where his hand had been licked, he lifted his palm to his nose and sniffed once more. his eyes flicked back to roman, and slowly, a grin spread across his face, sharp with confusion and amusement. an inked hand reached toward him, palm open like an offering and an accusation all at once. “can you smell that?” he asked. “you can understand why i’m fucking confused.”

"yes. with wolfgang. the entire night." he repeats, as if the more he says it, the more it'll be true. roman knows that it is not. last night, his friend had his niece. he never went over there as his wolf, not wanting to hurt or scare greta. besides, the witch always texted him to make sure he had made it home safely. there were no messages.

consistency wasn't something roman knew. even now, settled into a place he had decided to call home years ago - he knew better than to get too comfortable. something would happen. someone would find him. and then he'd have to run again. at least when it had happened when he was a child, he had his sister. now, he had no one.

it makes sense and he hates that it does. he wants to be mad. wants somewhere to place the anger that had been boiling inside of him since his loss. but it was never her fault, was it? if anyone should feel guilty, it's him. he had let him into their home. had trusted him, only for it to be spit back into his face. roman never made that mistake again.