"You've been silent for a long-ass time," River said in his usual smug way.

I nodded and took a deep breath. "I wanted to tell you this before the next full moon because you'll notice I'm different." I let out the remaining air because I had taken in way too much. "I was pushed into a wolf trap. I'm still recovering but it's... Not looking good." I swallowed something.

"What do you mean?" Tasha asked, leaning forward on the sofa.

"I can't walk... Right now. I can walk but not well. I'm in a lot of pain and I sleep a lot. You'll maybe notice the wolf being docile out in the woods. And I... Will need help."

"Kills you to say that," River said and rolled his eyes. "When will you realise, we all came for you. We're gonna stay for you. We will fight for you. "

"And we'll find the prick who pushed you," Samuel said with a fierce determination.

"I hadn't honestly thought much about that," I admitted.

"Busy dodging us and recovering," River said and rose to his feet. "I'm gonna raid your kitchen and see if Abel has any cookies hiding anywhere."

I rose slowly and tried to go after him because I did not want him rummaging through the cupboards. But I didn't get far before I almost fell and slammed my head in the coffee table. Only reason I didn't was because Sam and River, both caught me at the same time, each holding on to an arm. They got me up straight and then back to the chair.

"You weren't kidding, huh," River said.

"No," I said with a strained voice. Pain was shooting down my legs. "I've got pills upstairs."

"I've got 'em," Tasha said and shot up the stairs.

"Just relax, yeah?"

"Why did you have to say you'd go steal things? You know Gael doesn't like it when you steal things," Samuel said in a very lecturing tone.

"Who does like it when someone steals from them?" River asked and went to the kitchen, but came back almost immediately with a glass of water, right as Tasha came running down the stairs with my pills in hand. Didn't know how, but Abel had gotten his hands on some pretty strong painkillers.

I got two out and quickly shoved them down my throat, downing the whole glass of water.

"Thanks," I muttered and slumped down on the chair. I heard the door open, and Dave was by me in seconds.

"Hey babe," Abel said as he came in, bent down and kissed me. It was like he didn't even see the other people in the room. "You alright?"

"Yeah, Tasha got me meds."

"Oh no, what did you do?" His forehead wrinkled slightly as his concerned face came on.

"Probably my fault. I wanted to steal your baked goods in the kitchen. Gael tried to follow," River said.

"I never bake anything when I know you're coming," Abel replied coolly, crouching down beside me, his expression softening. "You feeling tired?"

I couldn't even lie. I was exhausted already.

"Alright, I'm kicking you all out, so Gael doesn't have to come up with an excuse. He needs rest and will contact you all later when he has rested," Abel said and rose back to his full height, nodding towards the door.

"Thanks for coming," I said, smiled and rose to my feet. Abel supported me immediately.

"I'll text you," Tasha said and gave me a two-finger salute.

"I will come by next week," Samuel said and followed Tasha out.

"I'll come when Abel bakes," River said and shot off a cheeky smile.

"Looking forward to never seeing you again," Abel said with a toxically sweet voice.

When all the wolves had left, Abel got me down on the sofa and pulled a blanket over me, helping me get comfortable.

"Where's Meera?" Abel asked and got my legs up in his lap, gently massaging them.

"She didn't reply. I don't know if she's pulling away a little. And it's alright if she is. I can imagine it can't be fun to see me considering she has also triggered a wolf trap. Like this could be her. She could've ended up like this. It can't be easy to deal with."

Abel grimaced. "I don't know, Gael. It seems really weird to not show up after all this?"

I shrugged and pulled the blanket up further, all the way up to my chin. "I get what she's probably going through. It's alright." My eyes slid shut. I was so dead tired and with Abel massaging my legs there wasn't anything else to do than nap.

Creek handed me the big paper cup and I shoved a metal straw through the plastic lid.

"Genuinely love how you always have metal straws. I hate the paper ones. They turn into porridge too fast." Creek grabbed a straw too and smiled as he pushed it through the lid.

"Yeah, I'm not a fan either," I said. But I was a fan of chocolate milkshakes. Loved them to death.

"How'd the meeting with the other wolves go?"

I shrugged a shoulder. "I don't think I really showed them I could be the leader they came looking for."

"Why do you say that?" Creek tilted their head to the side.

"Because... I can't even walk properly. You saw how hard it was to just get out here," I said and gestured to the front terrace.

"So?"

"Doesn't exactly inspire anyone, does it..."

"You saying disabled people aren't inspiring? Have you never watched any straight to telly films about the inspiring journey of overcoming one's disability and getting in the dance team and getting to the final competition and all that crap?" Creek chuckled.

"I don't even know if you're joking or not at this point," I said and leaned back in the garden chair. It was patted with pillows and so ridiculously comfortable.

"I'm making fun of you. Disabled people are just as capable as non-disabled people."

I pressed my lips together. "They didn't come here for someone broken though."

"No, they came for safety and comfort. It's not just you offering that. It's the whole community. Like I'm not trying to take away the things you do. But it has fuckall to do with your ability to walk. What matters isn't broken. And you're not broken. A little weathered maybe, but the finest things usually have some fashionable wear and tear."

I shook my head a little and took a big sip of my milkshake. Creek didn't know what I meant. It wasn't like I was a huge ableist who didn't think disabled people could do anything. I wasn't included in that group though. This was about me. I couldn't do what I had promised. I felt helpless and like a huge-ass burden. It was horrible. And I had to find a way to deal with it. Talking to Creek didn't seem like the best way to deal. They didn't wanna hear me whine and whinge. Which okay, that was fair. I'm sure it was annoying as shit.

But I needed my friend, and I didn't know how to ask for what I needed. I wasn't even sure what it was I wanted. All I knew was I didn't need the peptalk. Maybe I just needed someone to tell me that this was a shit situation, and this was just overall shit. Maybe I just needed confirmation that my feelings were valid.

"You became very quiet there," Creek said then after a while of silence.

"Just thinking," I muttered.

"Something you wanna share?"

"I don't know. I think I'm getting tired," I lied. I wanted to retreat and be left alone. I knew it was much like throwing a temper tantrum just because Creek didn't coddle me, but I had a hard time snapping out of it.

"Want me to help you inside?" Creek asked and rose to their feet.

"No that's alright. I've got it." I struggled to my feet and limped towards the door.

"Alright... Well, I'll leave... Then," Creek said hesitantly. I knew he was maybe hoping I'd ask him to stay but I didn't wanna be around anyone anymore. I was tired. I wanted to sleep and forget all about this situation. Forget all about what I wanted and failed to communicate to my friends. At this point I just wanted them all to leave me alone.