before I start, I just wanted to say I'm very sorry for lack of updates. I finished exams last week, and then it was my 17th birthday, AND THEN my computer broke (lol nice) so im using my parents right now and saving up for a new compute. 

okay now onto the chapter :)

As much as I wanted to lean into the kiss, I had to force myself back. My eyes were wide as I stared at Liam who looked back at me in confusion. "Slow down." I ordered, pushing myself to my feet to create distance between us. 

Liam jumped to his feet as well, "What's wrong?" he demanded, worry clouding his face. 

I ran my hands through my hair as I shook my head, "We can't do this." I muttered, turning to look at him, "Not right now."

Liam's face fell, "Did you not hear what I just said to you?" he questioned. 

I nodded, "I heard it Liam, trust me. And I've been waiting to hear those words from you for six months. But-" I started, giving him a defeated look, "We can't just jump into things like everything is okay. You and Hayden were together like two seconds ago." I pointed out. 

Hurt and sadness flashed across Liam's face as he let out a shaky sigh, running his own hand over his hair. 

I gave him a sad smile, "Liam, I love you, I really do." I promised, "But we just have to think about things before we do anything."

He let out a small breath before nodding, "You're right." he announced, "Can we at least be friends again?" he asked, sticking his hand out.

I gave him a smile as I took his hand in mine, "Friends."

---

"Sydney keep that IV bag up." my mother instructed as she glanced at me through the rear view mirror. After Liam and I had rejoined my mother and Hayden, we had discovered that Hayden's condition was only getting worse. So, my mom had made the executive decision to bring her to the hospital instead. Hopefully, here she would have better resources to save her life. 

Theo had left at some point before Scott and Liam's argument, and Scott had left afterwards to go track down Hayden's sister. That left Liam, my mom and I to try and save Hayden's life. 

. "How much longer?" I asked,  my eyes locked on Liam who stared blankly out the window.

"Almost there." my mom responded, turning into the back parking lot of the hospital. "Okay Syd," she announced as she turned off the ignition,  "You hold the bag, Liam you get Hayden and carry her in, I'll go get a wheelchair." she instructed before disappearing into the hospital.

Liam and I did as she said, rushing into the hospital, Hayden withering in pain in Liam's arms. 

"Here," my mom called as she rounded the corner with a wheelchair,  "Set her down."  She took the IV bag from my hands as Liam set Hayden in the chair.

"This way." she said turning towards the elevator.

Liam and I followed her into the elevator, neither of us saying a word as she hit the floor 4 button.

Soon enough, I felt my stomach drop as I looked at her IV bag, that was now starting to fill with black liquid.

"What's happening?" I whispered in fear.

"I'm not sure." My mom answered quietly.  "But it's certainly not good." 

"My sister." Hayden mumbled through gasps of pain.

"Scott's out looking for her right now." My mom said crouching down to Hayden's level, "He's going to bring her here as soon as he can, alright?"

Hayden didn't respond, instead she just closed her eyes.

---

Over an hour had passed and Hayden was still in rough shape. Liam had left not long after we arrived to try and find Scott. That left my mom, Hayden and I alone in an OR that was located on a floor that was currently being renovated, meaning it was empty. 

I nervously paced back and forth as I awaited the arrival of Mason who was bringing us extra supplies. Another few minutes passed by the time I heard the ding of the elevator, signalling someone was coming. 

I lifted my head, letting out a sigh of relief as Mason rushed into the room, his hands full of supplied. 

"Over here." My mom instructed, showing him where to set everything down.

Mason dumped the supplies on the table before looking back up at my mom, "Shouldn't we be talking to a doctor?" he asked. 

My mom sighed, "I've been wondering that for hours," she admitted, "Do we bring her in? Let them treat her as their own patient, as we stand here knowing it's not going to work? Or do we try everything possible to save her."

"Is she dying?" Mason asked, his voice shaky as he looked down at Hayden. 

 My mom gave him a solemn look, "With the amount of mercury in her body right now, she shouldn't even be alive."

I stood at the side, watching as my mom did everything possible to save this girl's life. This girl who was just like me. Sixteen years old, a teenager who did teenage stuff. And then I wondered why us? Who in the hell chose a group of teenagers to target? Why did they decide to ruin all of our lives? What have we ever done?

"Where's Liam?" Mason asked, pulling me from my thoughts as he looked around the room.

"He said he was going to find Scott." I answered, moving closer to the table, my eyes trained on Hayden.

"How long ago was that?" Mason questioned, causing me to look up at him. 

I glanced to my mom, "An hour and a half."

Mason looked between the two of us, his eyes slightly concerned, "Does that not seem like a pretty long time?"

"He's right," Mom mom announced, "I can't get a hold of Scott either." she admitted, before looking down. "Hayden's not going to hold on much longer."

"I'll go look for them." I announced, already pulling on my jacket.

"Mason, go with her. Please?" My mom asked, sending Mason a hopeful look. 

Mason nodded and the two of us took off sprinting down the halls, rushing to get out to his car. 

"Where could they be?" he asked, as we both got into his car, him quickly starting the ignition. 

"Let's check the school, that's where Scott was headed." I suggested. Mason nodded, hitting the gas, sending us flying out of the parking lot.

---

 I nervously tapped my foot against the floor of the car as we got closer to the school. Truthfully, I was terrified of what we might find. There was no reason for either of them to have been gone this long. 

"I'm sure they're fine. They probably just got caught up in something." Mason offered giving me a comforting smile.

"I have a feeling that's not what happened." I mumbled as he pulled into the parking lot. Scott's bike, and Liam's mom's car that he always borrowed were both in the parking lot.

My heart was in my stomach as I threw open the car door, "Let's go!" I called, already making my away toward the school. Mason caught up to me, and soon enough the sound of our feet echoed through the empty halls as the two of us looked around desperately, hoping to see Scott and Liam.

"This way!" Mason called, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the library.

As we reached the doors, I was confused to see that the usually locked doors that required a key card to get in, were cracked open.

I looked at Mason and he nodded, signalling for me to open them. A shaky sigh fell from my lips as I slowly pushed them open. As the doors swung open, I was met with a sight that made my heart drop, almost knocking the air from my lungs. 

I let out a strangled cry as my eyes fell on Liam, who was on top of Scott, slashing at him with his claws. Scott lay almost motionless on the ground.

"LIAM!" Mason shouted, his eyes wide as pushed past me and ran toward them. "LIAM!"

But still Liam didn't budge. Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks as I rushed towards them, finally snapping out of my trance,  "LIAM!" the scream ripped through my throat, making it feel like I had just swallowed glass.

Liam immediately stop, freezing for a moment, before turning to look at us. His eyes were wild and full of rage as he looked to us, his chest rapidly rising and falling. 

"Liam, What are you doing!?" Mason questioned, his voice cracking in fear.

I pushed past Mason, dropping to my knees beside my brother. "Scott?" I whispered, tears flooding my eyes.

"Syd," Liam whispered, his voice full of regret as he reached out to me. It was like he hadn't known what he had been doing, like he was hypnotized. 

"Don't touch me." I snapped, harshly pulling away from his outstretched hand. 

"She's gone." Mason announced, holding up his phone. It was likely that he had just received a text from my mother,  "Hayden's gone, she died a few minutes ago. She's gone." he restated, tears filling his eyes.

Liam's sad eyes met mine, and I just shook my head. "Go!" I shouted through tears. "Just go!" I cried grabbing a hold of my brother's hand.

Liam's own eyes were now filled with tears, as he looked at me once more, before running out of the room.

"Come on Syd." Mason whispered softly, "Let's get him up."

I nodded as I wrapped my arms around my brother, Mason doing the same as we both pulled him up off the floor.

"Scott, what happened?" Mason questioned as we sat him against the wall, surveying the wounds that Liam had left on his body. 

"It's the Super Moon," Scott winced as he moved slightly,  "It's just bad timing." 

I shook my head, "Well-" Before I could finish I was cut off.

"Seriously? You two couldn't wait five minutes?"

The last thing I saw was a pissed off Theo Raeken, and then everything went black.

---

When my eyes reopened, it took me a minute to register where I was, but when I finally clued in, I was on my feet in seconds.

As I stood up, the whole room came into view, revealing the scene of Theo Raeken, with his claws deep into my brother's torso. It was almost as if I could see the life drain from my brother's eyes.

I scrambled as I grabbed the closest piece of broken wood that lay beside me, before rushing over. "Get off of him!" I shrieked sending the wood cracking across Theo's skull.

Apparently, he was not only an evil psychopath, but also had a steel skull. Theo turned to me, unfazed by my hit.

"I always knew you were going to be trouble." he sneered, advancing towards me.

I stumbled backwards, "You used me" I whispered, coming to the realization that everything Theo had done was an act. He was trying to weasel his way into our lives, "You used all of us."

Theo let out a small laugh, "I never wanted to hurt you, Sydney." he sneered, slowly advancing on me, "But I needed to get your brother to trust me."

I shook my head in anger,  "You son of a bitch!" I spat, still taking steps backwards, trying to get away from him. 

He smirked as he titled his head, "You can't say you weren't using me too." he taunted, "To get over Liam that is." he let out a humourless laugh, "Are you over him now, Sydney? Now that he tried to murder your brother."

A terrified gasp flew from my lips as I hit the wall behind me, I had no where else to go. "You're going to regret this!" I screamed, "We won't let you-"

My words died in my throat as Theo lunged toward me, wrapping his hands around my neck. My eyes grew wide as he tightened his grip, my feet slowly leaving the ground. "I didn't want to have to do this." he admitted, but his eyes showed no sincerity, "I wanted to keep you around."

I struggled to breathe as I swatted at his hands, desperately trying to get him to release me. Black began to rim my vision as I started to lose consciousness. Theo was going to kill me. 

Seconds before I blacked out for a second time that night, the pressure on my throat released. I let out a violent cough as I slumped against the wall. I struggled to open my eyes as a deafening growl boomed through the library.

When I finally managed to open them, I could see Liam standing in front of me, his back was toward me as his shoulders rose and fell rapidly in anger- he was livid. My eyes then caught on Theo who was laying on the ground against the far wall, letting out groans of pain. 

As Liam turned slightly, I could see his expression- it looked like he was ready to rip Theo's head off. 

"I'd leave if I were you." That was Mason, I couldn't see him, but I knew he was now awake as well.

Theo shook his head. An evil grin still on his face. He gave Liam and I one last look before turning to leave. "Oh, and by the way, you might want to call Scott's mom."

My eyes grew wide as I shot up from my spot, ignoring the pain that shot through my head and throat as I pushed past Liam to where my brother was. 

"Mason!" I yelled, "He's not breathing!" I cried, my voice barely audible, due to my now swollen throat.

Mason knelt down on the other side of Scott, instantly beginning CPR, as I sat there helpless, tears blurring my vision. At one point I heard the library doors open and close, signalling that Liam had left.

After Scott hadn't woken up after a few minutes, Mason sat back, obviously defeated.

"No!" I yelled, tears streaming down my face,  "What are you doing? Why are you stopping!?" I demanded, as I began giving Scott CPR.

"Syd, it's too late he's-"

"No!" I cried, gasping for air, as my throat begin to close. Either Scott was going to wake up, or I was going to die trying to save him.

"He's my brother! I'm not letting him die!" My hoarse voice echoed through the empty library.

"Scott!" My mom's voice came from outside the room.

"Mom!" I shouted, my voice once again cracking.

My mother ran in her eyes ablaze, as she pushed me aside, quickly taking over CPR. Tears welled in her own eyes at the sight of her son.

"What are you doing?" Mason questioned, tears falling from his eyes.

"Bringing him back!" My mom yelled, not stopping compressions.

"You can't bring him back. His heart- he hasn't had a pulse in fifteen minutes. You can't bring someone back that's-"

"He's not someone, he's my son!" My mom argued, cutting Mason off, "And he's an alpha and he's too strong to die like this! Come on Scott!!"

Tears soaked my face, as I watched my mother attempt to save my brother's life. "Scott wake up!" I cried.

"Come on baby open your eyes." my mom whispered.

Mason leaned forward, "Melissa it's-"

"Shut up!" my mom screamed, cutting Mason off once again. "He's too strong to die like this!"

"Mom, he's not waking up!" I cried.

"I am not letting him die." she whispered "Come on Scott, roar." she pleaded,  "Come on Scott ROAR!" She lifted up her arms and with one final blow to Scott's chest, his red eyes open, a loud growl emitting from his mouth.

He was alive. 

---

That night when we had gotten home, after making a trip to the hospital to have both Scott an I examined, everything was different. Scott and my mom were upstairs, and I was downstairs in the kitchen, icing the spot on my head where Theo had hit me. 

A small knock on the door, caused me to rise from my seat. I slowly made my way over, terrified that I would open the door to see Theo, but when I opened I was almost more scared than if it had been Theo.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice barely audible from the swelling. 

"I needed to see you." Liam whispered.

I stepped outside closing the door behind me, making sure my mom, or Scott couldn't see Liam.

"You tried to kill my brother." I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest in anger.

"I know," Liam admitted with a sigh,  "And I'm never going to forgive myself for that. And I'm going to make if up to you. Both of you."

"Why did you come back tonight?" I asked the questioned that I had been wondering all night, "You were supposed to go see Hayden, but you came back."

"I couldn't leave you there like that, knowing that I had hurt you, and Scott, I couldn't just leave." Liam answered, his sad eyes meeting mine.

"Well it's a good thing that you came back." I whispered, "You saved my life." I confessed. 

 Liam cracked a small smile. "That's what friends are for right?"

I nodded slightly, "I guess so."

holy heck this chapter was a little bit insane! 5a is complete!

what was everyone's fav part of this chapter? let me know in the comments. remember I LOVE when you guys comment!!

thanks for reading xo

-maddy