You thought being Enid’s cousin would be fine, right?

Not having to talk to anyone because she always carried the conversations. Not having to deal with her mother’s sharp tongue because you were always there, subtly blocking the worst of her comments before they cut too deep.

But then came Wednesday fucking Addams.

You hated that girl with everything in you especially when she was rude to Enid. And the feeling was mutual. Wednesday didn’t like you either, because somehow, you always managed to shut her up with a single sharp comment. You were one of the very few who knew how to claw your way onto her level, and she despised it.

But she couldn’t deny that you were useful. Your senses, your instincts being a werewolf who had wolfed out early meant you had sharp edges most never dared to touch. Still, you never helped her. Not willingly. You avoided her like the plague. Yet somehow, you always ended up where she was.

The night Rowan attacked her? Yeah, you were there. She’d run into you and Bianca, spilling out everything in a rush. No one believed her except you. You had smelled the blood on her, that thick metallic tang clinging to her skin, and underneath it, something worse. A strange, rotting scent that left a bitter taste in your mouth for the rest of the night.

You were there for most things, or else you heard them from Enid.

And now?

Now you were dragged along with Enid, Wednesday, and Tyler to the Gates mansion. You kept close to Enid, silent, even when Wednesday lied about what she wanted for her birthday. You didn’t argue. You just slipped past her with a shrug. But when Tyler fumbled at the locked door, you couldn’t help muttering “freak” under your breath grinning when Enid popped it open like it was nothing.

That grin died fast when you were upstairs with the girls in that neatly clean room your nose caught the smell. That same smell.

You coughed sharply, nose wrinkling, and both Wednesday and Enid turned to you with frowns just before Tyler’s voice called out: “The monster’s here!”

Chaos. Running through the halls, shadows splitting apart under flashing lights. You shoved Wednesday into the dumbwaiter after she had shoved Enid in there, ignoring her protests. The monster’s claws raked your side as it struck, slamming you into the wall. Both girls screamed your name before Wednesday’s hand slammed the latch shut, sealing them below.

By the time you dragged yourself up, the shift had already ripped through you. Bones cracked, muscles stretched, fur bursting along your skin. Your body became something else, something bigger, darker. Your wolf form towered with broad shoulders and thick muscle, your fur pitch black and bristling. Golden eyes burned like fire through the shadows, fangs glinting with saliva as your claws dug grooves into the floor and launched at the beast.

For a few moments, it was only violence. Claws tearing, teeth snapping, two monsters locked in feral rage. Then, with one brutal strike, it hurled you through a wall and disappeared into the night.

When you finally found Wednesday and Enid again, Tyler lay bleeding with a slash across his chest. You had thrown a sheet around yourself sweat and blood streaking your skin. Wednesday’s eyes flicked up and down your form, her usual deadpan faltering for just a second.

“Don’t ask,” you grunted.

Later on the week when you found Wednesday in the nightshades library you leaned against a bookshelf eyes on her.

“Enid said you argued,” you murmured, hands shoved deep into your pockets, now dressed.

She turned slowly, unreadable as always, but the silence stretched long enough to make you uncomfortable. Finally, she said:

“Thank you.”

That caught you off guard. You blinked. “For?”

Her gaze was steady, almost sharp enough to cut. “You distracted the monster. You bought us time. So… thank you.”

You stared, then looked away with a heavy sigh. “Going soft on me, Addams?”

Her lip twitched. “Don’t get used to it.”