13, regret

Outside the hospital doors, the night air felt heavy. The shadows of the towering walls of Willow Hill stretched out over the damp grass, making the group waiting outside feel even smaller than they already did.

Enid sat with her hands knotted in her lap, claws half-extended without her even realizing it. She kept tapping her foot, eyes darting toward the double doors every time they creaked, like she expected someone to finally walk out and tell them Ari was fine.

Gia sat beside her, staring at her own hands, her usual boldness dulled. She glanced at Liam now and then, but he hadn't spoken a word since they got there.

Liam stood apart from them, leaning against a tree, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His jaw clenched and unclenched, but his eyes... his eyes were on the ground. Silent. Heavy. The guilt sat in his chest like stone, heavier with every passing second.

Gia's voice broke through the quiet, soft but sharp. "You're going to drive yourself crazy standing there like that."

Liam didn't move, didn't even look up. "Maybe I deserve to." His voice was low, almost swallowed by the night.

Gia frowned. "Liam..."

But before she could press, the doors creaked open. Pugsley trudged out, his usual energy stripped away. His shoulders slumped, and even in the shadows his face looked pale. He rubbed the back of his neck, stepping slowly toward them.

Gia stood quickly. "How is she?"

Pugsley glanced up at them, then away just as fast, like it hurt to meet their eyes. "She's unconscious. Same as Ari . They're both stable, the doctors say... but they don't know when they'll wake up." His voice cracked slightly, but he forced a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Silence wrapped around them again, thick and suffocating.

Liam swallowed hard. For the first time since they arrived, he lifted his head and looked at Pugsley. His voice was rough, the words fighting to get out. "She wouldn't even be here if I didn't—" He stopped himself, jaw tightening again.

Enid's ears perked, and Gia's eyes narrowed on him.

"You think this is your fault?" Gia asked sharply.

Liam didn't answer. He didn't have to. His silence spoke louder than any excuse.

Pugsley, for once, wasn't clueless. He stepped closer, his expression surprisingly serious. "Ari doesn't blame people. Not even when she should." His gaze flicked between Liam, Gia, and Enid. "She's like that. She'll probably wake up worried about you instead of herself."

That hit Liam like a knife. He turned away again, dragging a hand through his hair, but not quick enough to hide the way his face broke for just a second.

Gia crossed her arms, but her voice softened. "Then don't waste time standing out here drowning in guilt. Be here when she wakes up. That's what she'll want."

"I'm sorry," Liam finally muttered, his voice low as his eyes flickered to Pugsley. "For treating you like crap. I hated you."

"Yeah, you did," Pugsley admitted, brows furrowed. "But I never really got why."

"Oh for god's sake!" Gia snapped, her patience finally snapping. She threw her hands in the air, glaring at both of them. "How are you two so dense?!"

Both boys stared at her, blinking.

Gia jabbed a finger toward Pugsley first. "Liam hates you because Ari has always been your biggest supporter. She's been interested in you since the moment you walked in. She only had eyes for you, and Liam—" her gaze swung to him, sharp as a knife, "—Liam's been in love with her forever. He got jealous because no matter what he did, Ari was looking at you."

Silence. Thick, heavy silence.

But Gia wasn't done.

Her voice softened but burned hotter. "And don't you dare stand there acting like she abandoned us, Liam. Ari loves us. Even when she wasn't around, even when she was all wrapped up in you—" she flicked her gaze at Pugsley again, "—she still loved us. That girl went out tonight to find you, to apologize, to fix things, and now she's in there fighting for her life. So stop acting like she'd ever leave us behind. Ari Sinclair would rather die than let the people she loves feel lonely."

Liam's throat worked, but no sound came out.

And then Gia's eyes snapped to Enid. "And you—"

Enid flinched.

"—this is kinda your fault too. Her feeling lonely part. Ever since you wolfed out, you've been acting like... like a bitch. Yeah, I said it. You finally got a pack, finally felt like you belonged, and what, suddenly Ari's not good enough? She's your sister, Enid! She needed you, and you ignored her. You treated her like she didn't matter."

The silence after that was deafening.

Gia blinked, realizing the way everyone was staring at her, wide-eyed. Her voice cracked a little. "Oh my god. I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. I just— I had to say it. Because none of you seem to get it. Especially you, Pugsley."

Pugsley tilted his head, still processing. "Wait... you said Ari likes me?"

Everyone groaned.

"That's what you got out of that?!" Liam snapped.

"I stopped listening after she said that part," Pugsley admitted honestly, a dazed little smile tugging at his lips. "That's... wow."

Gia dropped her face into her hands. "Unbelievable."

—————-

A/N

So guys I did it again ...I posted new chap after telling you all you had to wait till part 2