WARNING - Language Alert

The phone was ringing.

Norah could hear it in the kitchen, the shrill tone sounding like a marching band parading through her head. She tried to open her eyes but they were stuck together with sleep and tears.

Her head continued to pound and she decided against opening them in the end. The thought of light was enough to make a whimper pass her lips. The memories of last night scattered in her head, refusing to piece together and she caught snatches, unable to determine what it was that had happened. As the phone finally stopped ringing, she started to wonder why Rylan hadn't just answered it and froze.

Rylan was gone, and Daniel was -

As one, the memories surged forward, crashing together in one large cluster and she was bombarded with the horror that had been the night before. Her chest tightened and pushing through the pain, she opened her eyes. The daylight shone dimly through the curtains. It was enough to make the throbbing in her head hurt more, but the pain no longer seemed important.

Daniel was dead.

She had killed someone.

She didn't know what to do. She felt detached from the events, as if she were no longer the same person. Numbly, she sat up. The world swayed and she held her head, stumbling to the bathroom. Running the shower, she stripped off her clothes, the smell of salt and dirt clung to them and she gasped when she saw her reflection in the mirror. Bruises lined her stomach and ribs, from Daniel's fists; they were an ugly red and purple that marred against her pale skin.

Looking higher, her face was a mess. Covered in dirt, she saw a bruise along her hairline above her left temple. The skin around her eye felt tender as she touched it, but it wasn't swollen. She was lucky in that aspect.

Stepping into the shower, she let the water run over her. Even though she knew the night before had happened, it felt like nothing more than an awful dream. She didn't want it to be real. Scrubbing the dirt and grime from her battered body, she knew what she had to do - she had to turn herself in. She had made Adam do it, and she had to follow her own example. Daniel had been a monster, but murder was wrong and she couldn't live with the guilt of knowing she had ended someone's life.

When she finished showering, she got changed and arranged her hair to hide the bruising. First, she would go to the cliffs. She knew she should go to the police station first, but something inside her needed to see - needed to know that it hadn't all been a dream. That she had become the monster.

Grabbing a pair of sunglasses, she downed two pain killers and trudged outside. The air was warm, it was going to be hot day. Norah didn't like that. When a protagonist had done something wrong in a book, the day should be miserable, rain pelting down on the ground to symbolise their grief and despair.

This isn't one of your stories, Norah.

She flinched as Rylan's words came back to haunt her. He was right. This wasn't one of her stories, if it was, she could simply go back and rewrite that whole scene, pretending it had never happened. There were no rewrites in real life.

Climbing in her car, she breathed deeply, her head still causing her grief. The pain killers hadn't kicked in yet, and she hoped they did soon. She didn't think she would get anymore once she turned herself in. The town was already bustling with tourists as she drove through. She wondered if the word had spread that a body had been found - she assumed they had found the body by now. Someone had to have seen the car lights last night. She hadn't turned them off - she hadn't done anything other than push a man off a cliff.

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened.

The track came into view and she thought she would start panicking, that the flashing of police lights would meet her - but there was nothing. She reached the spot where the car had been left and stopped, climbing out.

The white vehicle was gone. There was no police - no yellow investigative tape, just....empty space.

What...

She walked up the hill, confusion slowly being replaced with fear until she was running, trying to run from the panic that threatened to break free. Reaching the top, she looked around, breathing heavily.

Still nothing.

Her blood roared in her ears as she stepped towards the edge, hesitating before she looked over, to the rocks below -

"No no no."

She stepped back and bolted down the hill, all rational thought fading. It wasn't possible. Her sandal slipped off but she didn't stop until she reached the bottom. All was quiet apart from the crash of the waves against the cliffs. Climbing over the rocks, she started hyperventilating as she found the spot where he had fallen. She knew because it was still dry - too high up for the tide to wash a body away - and blood stained the spiked stone.

A strange hiccupping noise reached her ears and she realised it was herself, the panic starting to set in. Where were the police? Why was no one hanging around and collecting evidence?

She glanced at her watch. It was only early in the morning, they couldn't have finished an investigation this early on.

"I'm going mad," she whispered, staring at the blood stain.

God she hated blood.

The hiccupping sobs eventually stopped and like a zombie, she made her way back to her car.

"This can't be happening," she whispered, hands trembling as she turned the key in the ignition. She decided they had to have finished their investigation and had just packed up early. She would just go to the police station and turn herself in.

A strange calm settled over as she drove back into town, parking in her usual spot outside the Twilight cafe before she realised. Hopping out, she stared at the people walking by, listening to their conversations in hopes of hearing something that would prove she wasn't going mad.

A man spoke of walking his dog, another the wrong bait resulting in no catches for the morning. A young girl screamed for ice cream -

No one was gossiping about a potential murder.

"Norah!" A hand grabbed her shoulder and she was spun around. Olivia glared at her. Norah didn't think she had ever seen the young girl so angry before. "What the hell is your problem? Rylan told me all that crap you threw at him yesterday. He has saved your life countless of times and this is how you repay him, by being a bitch? I thought you were a good person, Norah. Boy was I wrong."

The words rolled off her, she felt guilty about Rylan but that guilt couldn't break through the shock.

"Has there been any police about today?" Her voice sounded strange, almost detached from her body and Olivia jolted.

"What? No, only the sergeant who gets his morning coffee."

"Did he talk about anything happening at the beach?" she pleaded.

"No, only about the amount of tourists - what the hell is wrong with you? Where is your other shoe?"

Norah glanced down and saw she had forgotten her shoe. It was still up on the cliffs - but she couldn't go back there.

"So there's been no accidents reported," she whispered.

Olivia stepped forward, concerned. "No, Norah what are you talking about?" Her eyes moved over her glasses and the different hair style. "What happened?"

"Nothing, I just drank too much last night or something, I have to go." The panic was starting to creep back in at what all this could possibly mean.

"Norah -"

"Bye Olivia." Getting back into her car, she quickly pulled away and headed home. "I'm not mad," she whispered.

The bruises proved she hadn't imagined it. Still, mad thoughts started creeping in and she let them, too afraid to chase them away with reason. No one could survive a fall like that, the amount of blood had been life threatening. And yet... No police investigation. No body. No Car.

Irrational fear won.

Getting home, she flew from the car, only one thing on her mind.

Run.

She stumbled through the disarrayed kitchen and into her bedroom, grabbing whatever she saw and shoving it into a bag. She was a coward. There was no escaping that. She knew he couldn't be alive - but what if he was? What if he was some strange creature, like the Montoya's?

Going out into the kitchen, she heard a crunch as her foot landed on something and looked down. Reaching down, she picked up her phone, the cracked screen lighting up as she clicked the button. Unsure why, she dialled the now familiar number and waited as it rang. When he didn't answer, something inside her wilted. He hated her.

"This is Rylan. You know what to do."

The voice mail beeped and she hesitated, suddenly unsure of what to say. "Rylan...it's Norah. You were right. I'm such a pathetic coward." Her voice broke. "I'm sorry I was such a stubborn idiot, but it's for the best. I couldn't get you involved in the shit I'm in. And I can't stay. I just can't. You're right, all I do is run from my problems. It's all I know how to do.  Thank -"

The tone beeped, signalling she'd run out of time and she stared at the black screen, placing the phone on the counter. If he ever decided to listen to it, she hoped he would forgive her.

It took her ten minutes to pack the car with what she needed. She'd call Ray and tell him Jack could burn the rest for all she cared. The house phone started ringing again and she left it, picking up her laptop when it changed over to the answering machine.

"Norah? Are you there?"

She froze.

"Look, I know you don't want to talk to me but -"

"Adam?" She picked up the call and heard his sigh of relief.

"Thank god! I've been so worried about you."

"How did you get this number?"

"Alice told me," he said simply. "She threatened to break into jail and kill me if I told another soul."

"Did you?" Norah whispered, her fingers white around the phone cord. "Did you tell Daniel?"

"What, no of course not! I'd never tell him where you are. Just tell me you're all right."

"No, I'm not all right. He...he knows where I am."

"Oh fuck. Look, get out of there and find somewhere else to lie low for awhile. He should leave you alone -"

"He won't leave me alone, Adam," she laughed darkly. "Not until he gets those stupid bloody diamonds."

"Well he's not getting them -"

"Why not! Are jewels more important to you than your own sister?" she shouted. "He is ruining my life - YOU are ruining my life, all because of some shiny stones!"

"Norah -"

"No! Just tell me where the fucking diamonds are and if I see him again, I'll tell him where to find them." She still didn't know if she would see him again, but her gut told her this wasn't the last of him.

"I can't do that, Norah."

"Of course you can't," she snapped. "So bloody selfish -"

"No! Norah, I can't tell him where the diamonds are because... you have the diamonds."

Her heart stopped. "What?"

The silence between them became deafening, a ball of rage started to build in the pit of her stomach, making it difficult to see.

"That night," he said quickly, sensing her anger. "While you were on the phone with the lawyers, I hid the diamonds in your jewellery box. You know the one that used to belong to mum with the secret compartment in the back?"

"This...whole time," her entire body shook with the effort not to shout. "Those diamonds were on me - the one thing that would have made Daniel leave me alone - and you're just telling me now?"

"Norah, I couldn't let him -"

"WHAT THE FUCK?" she screeched. "What the hell were you thinking? You destroyed my life because you didn't want him to have them? Fuck you!"

"Norah please -"

"No, I am so mad right now, I'm going to say something I'll regret so you need to shut up. Don't call me again, I don't want to know you right now."

She slammed the phone down. Unhappy, she then picked it up and threw it across the kitchen. The cord grew taught and it crashed to the floor.

That arse! Storming into her bedroom, she grabbed the jewellery box which hadn't been packed. It was small white box, a fleur de lis painted on the top. Her mother had gotten it when she was a child and always told Norah how much she loved it.

Hands trembling, she found the latch at the back and pulled the compartment open. Shoved inside was a small blue pouch. She couldn't believe it. All this time, the cause of her torment had been hiding in her bedroom.

If Adam ever got out of jail, she was going to kill him herself.

Holding the pouch in her hand, her fingers clenched into a fist, wanting to rid the world of their existence. She flew around, walking outside with the mindset that like that jewel in the Titanic movie, they would fit in at the bottom of the ocean.

A bang to her left made her jump and she spun, shoving the pouch into her shorts pocket. "Luke?"

Luke strode over, his smile guarded. "Hey Norah, what's going on?"

"What are you doing here?" she asked, ignoring his question.

"I'm here as a favour I owe." His eyes roamed over her before glancing at the house. "Everything all right?"

"Fine," she said slowly. "Who told you to come here?"

He walked over to her car and pulled out the keys she'd left in the ignition.

"Hey!" Closing the doors, he locked it and tucked the keys in his pocket. "What are you doing?"

"Returning a favour," he said simply. "I'm going to keep these until you calm down."

"I am calm," she ground out. "You're not helping by stealing my keys."

He stepped back as she took a step forward. "Hey don't shoot the messenger. Look, Norah I don't know what trouble you're in, but it must be heavy for you to be trying to hide those bruises. Is the guy still around?"

She jumped before remembering Luke would be able to smell him. "No."

Luke heard the uncertainty in her voice and frowned. "I'll remember the scent in case he shows up again. Until then, I suggest you go and lay down. You look like crap."

"Give back my keys, I need them."

"No you don't," he smiled. "And besides, if I let you go, Rylan will kill me. I'll talk to you later."

He jumped back in his truck and Norah watched dumbfounded as he drove away, brushing over the fact Rylan had sent him. Her one vehicle of escape had been stolen from her - or at least the keys had.

God dammit!

The pouch pressed against her pocket and she pulled it out, wondering why she'd hid them from Luke. He didn't know what they were from.

"Right, time to see how well you guys swim." Turning, she walked into the water, pushing against the waves until she stood waist deep. Opening the pouch, she poured the rocks out and they glistened in her palm. They were tiny, their shape perfect and Norah couldn't help but be momentarily mesmerised by their allure before she remembered all the heartache they had caused her.

Diamonds were definitely not a girls best friend, she told herself.

She stared them, willing her hand to move and drop them into the water, to be forgotten forever. Something held her back. What if Daniel did come back? He would be beyond pissed, and he would want the diamonds. Norah wondered if she should hang onto them - just in case he did come back for them.

Even if he does, he'll kill you anyway, the voice of reason whispered in her mind and she sighed. Just throw them away and be done with it. Her hand tilted slightly to the left, the diamonds starting to roll against the skin -

A whistle shrilled behind her.

By reflex, her fingers curled, grabbing the diamonds and she spun in surprise.

"What the hell are you doing?" Rylan stood at the shore, one foot already in the water.

She shoved the diamonds back into her pocket. "W-what?"

She wanted to ask why he was suddenly there but words failed her. He motioned for her to come back to shore. When she didn't move, he waved his hands in annoyance. "Are you really going to make me come in after you?"

Her body started moving back to shore, stopping cautiously a few feet away from him. "Why are you here?"

"What, did you think you could just leave a message like that and I'd do nothing?"

"No, I didn't think you'd get it until..."

"Until you were gone?" He finished her sentence. He walked out, meeting her in the shallow waves and she would have moved back but her feet had sunk in the sand. His eyes scanned her face, they were hard and laced with anger. "Who's been here?"

She opened her mouth to lie and flinched as he gently grabbed her chin, fingers moving up her face, removing her sunglasses. She squinted in the bright light and heard a low growl in his chest.

"One fucking night," he muttered under his breath. "What happened?"

"Nothing worth mentioning." She knew from his expression that was the wrong answer. He started to turn away and without thinking, she grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Someone I know - someone I was hiding from found me and...this happened."

"Where is he now?" Her mouth opened but no sound came out. She couldn't bring herself to say it. She didn't even know if it was possible. Rylan cupped her face, thumb brushing the tear that escaped down her cheek.

"You were right," she whispered. "I'm just coward."

"You're not a coward, Norah. No coward would have saved my life in the forest or stuck around when she discovered he was werewolf."

At the mention of werewolf she remembered Chloe and pulled herself out of his grasp. "I shouldn't be doing this. It's not fair to Chloe -"

"Chloe is not my mate," he said flatly.

"What?"

"She made the whole thing up. We did date for a little while, but she has a few screws loose and I dumped her. She heard I was chasing you and this was her way of getting back at me. I went and saw her last night and told her to back off."

"So, she isn't your mate?"

"No, there's no such thing. It's all made up. If you were to mate with someone, it only like a marriage. You do tie yourself to them - it's not something to take lightly, but it doesn't mean you're destined for each other or anything. That's just a load of crap."

She nodded and looked through her lashes. "Why did you come back though? You said I was crazy as well."

He sighed. "You are crazy, but in a good way. I was just pissed off when I said that because you were keeping all this crap from me. I trusted you with my biggest secret but you couldn't trust me with yours. Of course I was going to insulted."

Norah flinched. She'd never thought of it that way. "I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to pile on top of the problems you already have with Liam and the leadership and all that."

"I was asking you to tell me, Norah. If I couldn't handle your drama I wouldn't have asked in the first place. I only wanted to help."

"Only because you felt like you owed me for saving your life."

A languid smile stretched across his face. "That is not the reason why, Norah."

She looked up at him. "Then why would you want to help me?"

He laughed under his breath. "Hopeless."

Before she could snap at him, he stepped forward pressing his lips against hers.

Norah's eyes widened, hands coming up to grab his shoulders as he stepped closer, hands resting on her waist. Eyes closing, she let herself fall into the moment, hands wrapping around his neck and Rylan pressed her closer, lips moving softly against hers. They pulled apart, foreheads resting against each other.

"That's why," he grinned. "If you haven't figured it out after that, then I'll need to get more creative."

"I've figured it out," she said quickly.

His hand moved up, brushing her hair from her face and she winced as he touched the bump made by Daniel. He felt her body jerk and stepped back, cursing as he revealed the sore area. "Where is the bastard? I'll kill him."

"I-I don't know. Honestly!" She added when saw the disbelief in his eyes. "I don't know how to explain it..."

Tears threatened to fall and she stepped back, only to be brought straight back against Rylan's chest. "Right, here's what is going to happen; we are going to go inside, take a look at that head of yours and then you are going to tell me everything. No negotiations."

"Don't you have work?"

"I took a personal day. Now, inside."

Too tired to argue, Norah let him lead her inside, his hand curling around hers. It felt warm, sending tingles up her arm and she didn't know if she deserved whatever this was. Not after what she'd done.

Walking inside, she heard him growl as he took in the state of her main room. He took her to the couch and sat her down. "Wait here."

She sat quietly, staring at the broken cup on the coffee table as Rylan looked around for something. The cup had been one of her favourites. It had a good handle and she loved the image of the shells on the side. I wonder what else is broken?

Rylan returned with her emergency kit and sat on the coffee table in front of her. He scooted closer and lifted her hair away to inspect the area again. She hissed when he dabbed it with a cool cloth. His care was gentle though, and he cleaned the area meticulously.

"Cassie has got a good remedy for bruising, we'll put some on it tonight when we go home."

"What? Why can't I stay here?"

"You're not staying here until we get this place sorted out. You're attacker messed this place up pretty bad, a lot of the small furniture is broken."

"I'll have to invite Jack down for a bonfire," she said weakly.

He took her hand, encasing in his large ones. She watched his fingers move against her skin, finding comfort in their small movements. "Tell me what happened, Norah."

Her hand trembled in his as the words tumbled forth and she told him everything about Adam, and about Daniel and what happened the night before. Rylan lifted her hand, lips brushing her knuckles as her breathing grew panicked. "Norah, don't panic. If he had been found, the town would have heard about it by now. He might not have died."

"But he fell from the cliffs! How could he not?"

Rylan shifted, sitting on the couch beside her and he moved his hand through her hair. "I'll go out later and do a sweep to see what I can find. Tonight you're staying with me though at the main house. I'm not leaving you alone again. One fucking night and this is what happens."

"What do we tell them?"

"About Daniel? We'll just keep it -"

"No, I mean what do we tell them about us? I get that you like me and all that, but...what exactly is this?"

"Jesus we haven't even started and you're already trying to define us."

"Sorry -" he kissed away her apology.

"I'm into you, you're into me - obviously I mean why wouldn't you be - so for now, we're just two people getting to know each other - and hopefully that will include all the benefits that go with it."

She glared at him and he laughed. "I know, I should shut up. Or you could make me."

His eyebrow raised and she laughed weakly at his attempt to cheer her up, before placing a quick peck on his lips.

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A/N: Because I'm in such a lovely mood right now, I'm giving you an early update :-) There won't be another for a little bit because I'm back at work tomorrow and I'll be away most of next week. Thanks for all the awesome comments on the last chapter! <3