Fractured Ribs and Goodbyes

POV: Delaney

The familiar scent of damp earth and crushed pine needles hits me the second my boots touch the training grounds. Out here, on the hard-packed dirt, I am in my element. The heavy thud of bodies hitting the mats and the sharp tang of sweat in the air are more comforting than any quiet classroom.

“Hey, Delaney! Looking good, girl! I think you get hotter every time I see you,” Cody calls out, flashing a bright, easy grin as he bounces on the balls of his feet.

I roll my eyes, tossing my gear bag onto the bench. “Cody. You saw me yesterday at training, right before I threw you over my shoulder.” I didn't actually destroy him, but I held my ground and gave him a run for his money, which is a victory in itself when you are dealing with a future Delta.

“And you looked great doing it,” Cody says, closing his eyes with a dramatic sigh.

We all burst out laughing.

“You are such an idiot,” I say, shaking my head. “Does that line actually work on anyone?”

“I save only my absolute best material for you, Del,” Cody says, slapping a hand over his chest. “At least until I find my destined mate. Then the universe forces her to love me, and I won't have to try so hard.”

“Lucky girl,” I mutter, pretending to gag in Wyatt's direction.

Wyatt just laughs, his warm, sandy-blonde hair falling into his dark eyes. He is the quiet, grounding presence of our group, balancing out Cody’s chaotic energy.

“You are lucky the Moon Goddess literally binds someone to you,” Dex grunts from the side of the ring, his arms crossed over his massive, tattooed chest. “Otherwise, I don't think any female would willingly tolerate you for more than ten minutes.”

Dex is our resident brick wall. To the rest of the pack, he is the silent, intimidating future Beta, a shadow of cold discipline. But underneath the hard exterior, he is fiercely loyal. Half the girls in our year are obsessed with trying to break through his icy shell, convinced they can be the one to save him. I always find it amusing. Dex doesn't need saving; he is just selective about who gets to see his real self.

Being the only human in a circle of dominant, supernaturally strong werewolves means I have had to fight twice as hard for every scrap of respect. My entire life has been a relentless battle to prove I belong. Growing up, the pack girls made my life a living hell. They looked at my lack of a wolf and saw a weak, easy target to tear apart.

They learned their lesson the hard way.

I still remember the day a particularly nasty wolf girl tried to humiliate me in front of the entire school. She thought my human status meant I couldn't fight back, assuming her supernatural strength made her invincible. She didn't realize I spent every single afternoon training with the future elite of the pack, or that my mother ran a self-defense studio. When she pushed me, I snapped. I laid her out on the concrete, delivering a beating so severe the rest of the pack finally stopped looking at me like prey.

Since then, I have trained alongside the guys as a future warrior. I can’t shift into a massive beast, but I have learned to adapt. I train with them when they are in their wolf forms, which has forced my human reflexes to become faster, sharper, and more precise. I have spent years pushing my physical limits, honing my tracking skills to the point where I can mask my scent and slip past even the sharpest noses in the territory. I can even fool Harrison when I want to, and his Alpha blood makes his senses stronger than almost anyone else's.

Right now, the training ring is a blur of motion. We are running Harrison through a brutal, continuous sparring cycle to build his stamina for the upcoming Alpha trials.

My ribs throb with a dull, sickening ache. Earlier in the session, I managed to slip past Harrison’s guard and land a solid right hook directly to his jaw. It felt amazing—the physical impact of my fist connecting with his stubborn face. But my victory was short-lived. Harrison recovered instantly, his heavy arm catching me right in the ribs as I tried to pivot away.

I heard the distinct, wet click of bone. Two of my ribs are definitely fractured. Every single breath feels like a blade sliding into my lungs, but I keep my face completely blank. Werewolves heal from broken bones in a matter of days, sometimes hours. My human body takes weeks. If I show even a flicker of pain, they will bench me. They will start treating me like fragile glass again, and I would rather die than go back to being protected like a delicate doll.

Wyatt steps into the ring, tapping Cody on the shoulder to swap out. Harrison is breathing hard, sweat glistening on his broad shoulders as he prepares to engage again.

“So, what is this meeting tonight really about?” Cody asks, grabbing a bottle of water and leaning against the wooden post of the ring. “The alliances are solid, aren't they?”

Harrison circles Wyatt, his eyes locked on his target. “It’s a formal gathering for the future Alphas. Establishing personal connections, discussing border security, that kind of thing. I’ve known most of these guys since we were kids, so it should be straightforward.”

Wyatt lunges, throwing a fast sequence of jabs. Harrison slips the first two, but because he is talking, his reaction is a fraction of a second too slow. Wyatt sweeps his leg, sending Harrison crashing hard onto the dirt. Harrison rolls immediately, springing back to his feet before Wyatt can follow up with a kick.

“When do you actually leave?” Wyatt asks, resetting his stance.

“We head out tonight,” Harrison says, wiping a streak of sweat from his forehead. He suddenly stops, his intense gaze shifting away from Wyatt and locking directly onto me. He raises a thick finger, pointing it straight at my chest. “Which means you three need to keep a tight, constant eye on her while I’m gone.”

I nearly choke on the mouthful of water I just took. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, glare heating up my face.

“What do you mean, watch me?” I demand, stepping toward the edge of the ring. “I don't need a babysitting squad just because you’re going to be out of town for a few days.”

“You know there have been rogue attacks along the southern border,” Harrison says, his voice dropping into that heavy, authoritative tone that always grates on my nerves. His protective instincts are flaring, suffocating the space between us. “They haven’t crossed into our lands yet, but with my transition to the Alpha position drawing close, our enemies are looking for any sign of weakness. You are a prime target.”

I refuse to let him hide behind political excuses. He has been acting like a paranoid warden for weeks, and I am sick of it.

“Nope. I’m going to need you to spell that sh*t out for me,” I challenge, crossing my arms over my chest, despite the agonizing pinch in my side. “Why am I suddenly a target?”

Harrison stops sparring entirely, letting his hands drop to his sides. He looks at Cody, then Dex, then Wyatt, practically begging them to intervene. The guys wisely keep their mouths shut, taking a collective step back. They know better than to get caught in the middle of our storm.

“Fine,” Harrison grits out, his jaw clenching so hard I can hear his teeth grind. His eyes darken with memories he clearly hates reliving. “It can’t happen again, Delaney. We can't go through that again.”

“What exactly can't happen again, Harrison?” I say, raising my voice so it carries across the entire training field.

“You can't get taken again!” he roars, the sound vibrating in his chest.

“Nothing happened!” I yell back, the frustration boiling over. “They had me for two days. Two days! You need to get over this.”

“That is bullsh*t, and you know it,” he growls, taking a step toward me. “You were targeted specifically because of your connection to me. I won't let it happen a second time.”

I lift my chin, refusing to back down an inch. “Oh, really? And who rescued me, Harrison? Who got me out of that cabin?”

He stops, his chest rising and falling with heavy, ragged breaths. “You got yourself out. We all know that. But that isn't the point. You are a human, and you were unguarded.”

“I am a trained warrior of this pack!” I snap back, my anger blinding me to the pain in my side. “Anyone in that position could have been captured. Or are you saying I’m no longer good enough to hold my rank?”

“You know that’s not what I mean,” he grunts, running a rough hand over his face. He looks exhausted, the weight of his future title pressing down on his shoulders. “I just can't lose you, Del. People know how much you mean to me, and they will use your human fragility to destroy me.”

“Dex, Wyatt, and Cody are important to you too,” I argue, gesturing wildly at the guys. “Are you going to assign a guard detail to them? Are they going to be locked in their rooms?”

“That is different, and you know it. They are...” He stutters, his arguments falling apart.

“They are what? Wolves? Males?” I shrug, ignoring the sting of his words. “I’m not stupid. I don't run headfirst into danger. Stop treating me like I’m made of glass. What are you going to do when you find your true Luna? Are you going to lock her in a cage, too? Because I’d really love to see you try.”

“But you are fragile, Del,” Harrison says softly. Before I can react, he lunges forward, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me flush against his solid chest. He locks his massive arms around my upper body, trapping my arms at my sides in an inescapable, restrictive hold.

“One of the future Alphas was moving his mate to his territory last week,” he whispers, his voice thick with a raw, terrifying fear. “Her vehicle was ambushed. She fought like hell, Del. She’s a wolf, and she still got taken. They held her for ransom.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Harrison shifts his grip. His hand slides down, and his fingers deliberately, firmly squeeze my left side.

A sharp, white-hot agony explodes through my chest. The breath is violently sucked from my lungs, and a strangled gasp escapes my throat before I can stop it. My knees buckle, and Harrison is the only thing keeping me upright.

He releases the pressure but doesn't let me go, his eyes drilling into mine.

“How are the ribs, Del?” he asks, his voice dangerously quiet.

“I'm... fine,” I wheeze, trying to find my breath.

“Don't lie to me. I felt them crack when I hit you earlier. I knew you were hiding it, but the fact that you didn't say anything is exactly what I'm talking about. You are my sister, and you are going to the clinic.”

“I don't need the clinic,” I protest, trying to pull away from his grip. “Healer Tessa gave me a tonic last week. I'll be fine in two days.”

“We go to the clinic right now, or I mindlink my mother,” Harrison threatens, his eyes flashing with victory.

I freeze, staring at him in horror. “That is a incredibly low blow, Harrison.” Aunt Valerie is my absolute weakness. If she finds out I have broken ribs, she will ban me from the training grounds for a month, and I will be stuck doing chores in the pack house until my bones are fully fused.

“Come on, Delaney,” Cody says, tossing his gear bag over his shoulder. “Let's get you checked out. If we go now, Harrison has to buy us all dinner to make up for breaking you.”

Dex steps up, silently handing me my backpack. I look at their determined faces and realize I’ve lost this battle. If I try to run, one of these massive wolves will just pick me up and carry me to the clinic like a sack of potatoes.

“Fine,” I grumble, snatching my bag from Dex. “But you’re paying for the large pizzas, Harrison.”

***

At the clinic, Healer Tessa confirms two small hairline fractures in my ribs. It takes some serious, intense negotiating, but the guys finally swear a solemn oath of secrecy. They promise not to breathe a word to Aunt Valerie. As long as I promise to take the healing tonics and modify my training for the next week, they will keep my secret.

By the time we get back to the pack house, the sun has fully dipped below the tree line. The rich, savory scent of melted cheese and baked dough fills the air, instantly making my stomach growl. Aunt Valerie has lined up a row of greasy pizza boxes on the kitchen island.

Despite the fact that Cody made us stop for burgers on the way back from the clinic, the guys descend on the food like a pack of starving wild beasts.

Aunt Valerie walks over to me, her eyes filled with that familiar, soft warmth. Uncle Marcus and Delta Silas are already outside, loading the luggage into the back of the SUV.

“We’ll only be gone for a few days, sweetheart,” Aunt Valerie says, wrapping her arms around me in a gentle hug. She pulls back, searching my face with a worried frown.

“I'll be perfectly fine,” I promise, giving her a reassuring smile. “Besides, I have the boy band here to keep me safe.” I thumb over my shoulder at Cody, Dex, and Wyatt, who are currently hovering over the pizza boxes like vultures. “You should probably go before they eat absolutely everything. I need to get over there and fight for a slice.”

She chuckles, giving my shoulder a final squeeze before heading out the front door.

I march over to the island just in time to see Cody reaching for the absolute last slice of cheese pizza. I slap his hand away with a sharp smack, snatching the greasy slice for myself. Cody just giggles, completely unbothered, and grabs a pepperoni slice instead.

Before I can take a bite, a pair of thick, heavy arms wrap around my waist from behind. Harrison pulls me back against his broad, solid chest, holding me in a tight, grounding embrace. He is careful not to squeeze my left side this time, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone his size.

I let out a soft sigh, leaning my weight back into his secure warmth. I reach down and squeeze his massive forearm.

“Love you, Del,” Harrison whispers directly into my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “I left one of my old shirts in your room. Just in case.”

My heart squeezes at the gesture. He knows about the nightmares. Ever since the kidnapping, sleep has been a battleground for me. The heavy, comforting scent of his Alpha spark—cedar, rain, and raw power—is sometimes the only thing that can keep the terrors at bay.

“Thanks,” I reply softly, my voice barely a whisper. “Love you too, Har.”

He holds me for one more quiet second, and then, as quickly as the moment came, he lets go. He turns and strides out the front door, leaving a sudden, heavy void in the bustling house.