HEY LOVES ❤️

Thoughtsof5h , yes bby I will be updating lol.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it and Happy Sunday to those that don't lol.

Enjoy~
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"Please don't tell me you were actually leaving Normani." Lauren breathed out, not even thinking about what she was saying, but rather reacting. Not only was her mate about to walk out on her, but she was going to do it when everyone was asleep.

Normani just adjusted her bag and looked the girl dead in the eyes, "Yes, I was about to leave. Are you going to try and stop me ?"

"N-no I'm not," The beta stuttered out, looking anywhere but her mate's eyes, "I hope you know that the nearest thing to a town is fifteen minutes away while driving."

"Well I'll be getting a leg workout then." The brown skin girl turned around ready to leave but was quickly stopped by Lauren.

"Wait wait ! Let me just, take you home. I don't want you walking at this time." The green eyed girl turned towards the key holder and grabbed the keys, "I'll be waiting for you in the car."

In an instant the girl was out of the house, eye never leaving the ground while Normani stood and watched how easily Lauren was to let her go. The girl turned around and took one last look at the house, "Dinah's gonna love it here. It's just not for me."

~~~

The drive the two shared together was utterly silent. The radio wasn't playing, the two weren't speaking but most importantly, nothing was being done to stop Normani from leaving. The brown skin girl patiently sat in the passenger seat, ready to go home, while Lauren's hands shook as she drove.

The love of her life was leaving her. To some it wasn't such a big deal, but to Lauren, she felt it deep in her heart. She wasn't good enough for Normani, she failed to treat her like the princess she was. There was an immense swell in the girl's heart every time a little idea came into her mind, as to why she caused Normani to leave.

Lauren shook her head, trying to rid of the horrid thoughts that constantly nagged in her mind. There was this inner battle going on in her head; about whether or not she should try and stop Normani. She wanted nothing more than to stop the girl and take her home but she didn't want her girl to be forced into something she didn't want.

Why couldn't the both of them just be happy together ?

Lauren's breath hitched as she hit the turn signal to go towards an exit. This action didn't get passed the brown skin girl, "Umm, Lauren, that's not the exit."

"I know, we need gas." The younger girl took the exit and headed towards nearest gas station. The green eyed girl drove straight into the BP lot and parked in the barren gas station.

The beta let out a shaky sigh as she stared down at the wheel. Normani was really going to leave her. She was a five minute drive away from being gone. How could Lauren screw up so badly ?

Normani stared at the in-zone beta. Lauren seemed to be hyperventilating to herself, sharp intakes while her fist would clench and unclench. The brown skin girl grew a bit scared, not knowing what to do. Why was Lauren freaking out ? What was wrong with her ?

"Lauren are you okay ?" Normani reached out, placing a caring hand on the girl's shoulder.

Instantly, the younger girl's sense calmed down as she stared down at the wheel harder. It was something about Normani's touch that calmed her, "Y-yeah. I'm fine. I just need to get the gas."

The Cuban girl instantly stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut. She went into the station, gave the cashier the money, and stepped back out, ready to pump the gas. The girl took out the pump and put it into the Jeep, wanting time to go by slower.

Lauren sighed to herself and looked up at the stars above. Tonight the sky seemed to be relatively clearer, more sparkling stars out. Lauren softly smiled to herself, wishing she could have one of these nights with Normani to just sit and stare at the stars.

The Cuban girl wants to get to know Normani, she wants to know her interests and fears. She wants to know what Normani aspires to be and regrets being. But somehow, the Gods didn't want to grant Lauren that kind of happiness.

The beta sniffled as she shook her head. Maybe Lauren wasn't fit to have something so precious. For Christ's sake, the only time she would get love from Normani was in her dreams. Did she come off too hard ? Did she not appeal to her the right way ? God why was she so stupid ??

From inside the car, Normani could hear a sniffle from somewhere. The brown skin girl furrowed her eyebrows as she looked around the car for the sound. Once the girl's eyes came into contact with a sad Lauren, her body instantly sprung into action. Something inside her felt compelled to figure out what was wrong with Lauren.

"Lauren ?" Normani asked as she rounded the corner of the car, "Lauren, what's wrong ?"

The now lime green eyed girl looked up from her teary sleeve, shaking her head. Not a single word was uttered, all Lauren could do was shake her head at herself. Even before her, in simple shorts and a t-shirt, Normani looked beautiful to her. She just couldn't have her.

The beta sniffled more before Normani, now surely worrying her, "Hey, what's wrong ? The big bad beta is crying." She joked softly, still with her worried tone.

Lauren scuffed as she wiped her tears some more, "I'm not tough. I'm as weak as they come."

"You're not weak. You literally body slammed a boy by your bare teeth, which I'm still not over by the way. He was nice, you didn't have to do that." Normani stated, crossing her arms before her mate.

The green eyed girl rolled her eyes, "He was a rogue."

"A rogue ?" Normani's eyes widened, knowing that term. Dinah had always told her about the rogues in the stories she read.

"He was brother of an old pack member of ours. Your little friend was coming back to get revenge. He was going to stab you with a poison knife. You're lucky I came just in time to stop him."

"Oh my God." The brown skin girl muttered. If it weren't for Lauren, she could've been hospitalized, or even worse, dead, "Thank you Lauren."

"You don't need to thank me," The green eyed girl answered honestly as she looked up at the night sky, "Normani can I tell you something before you leave ?"

The brown skin girl nodded. As long as she got to go home, that was all she was worried about.

"The pack didn't always used to be so close as before," Lauren started, "With Ally's father as alpha and my dad as beta, the pack was strictly according to the rules. Everybody worked, everybody was respectful to one another, but more importantly, everybody would have their mate."

The Cuban girl looked down from the stars, to look at her mate's face with a small smile, "And it was kind of hard being the beta's daughter. Every girl wanted Ruben to be their mate and boys were to scared to want to be mine. My father was always so face deep in the pack that he never really explained what it was like to be in love to me," Lauren chuckled softly to herself, "I just wanted what my parents had. They'd look at each other and just burst into smiles and giggles, like some silly teenagers. I some nights would wish for a shooting star just so I could wish for someone to love me like they love each other."

Lauren ran her fingers through her hair, "And then, the day I promised Camila I'd cover for her, I knew something spontaneous would happen. Then I take her order. This beautiful girl who some would call average, but to me she looked like an angel. It was some magical attraction to her, I felt it deep in me that she would mean so much to me," The Cuban girl tried blinking away her tears before turning towards Normani, "Normani, what did I do wrong ?"

The brown skin girl was taken aback by the question, "L-Lauren-"

"Did I come off too strong ? I promise that I can try and tone it down. I can stop !"

"Lauren-"

"Or did I not give you freedom ? I tried to not keep you on a leash."

Normani opened her mouth, not knowing what to say, "Lauren you didn't do anything."

Lauren looked up at the girl, tears now freshly rolling down her cheeks, "Then why am I not enough for you ?"

The Cuban girl just let herself go, tears all streaming down her cheeks as she leaned against the car, sobbing fully. The brown skin girl pulled the crying girl from the vehicle and let her cry on her shoulder.

"Lauren, you're always enough."

"The-then-then why are you leaving me ? Please don't leave me," The Cuban girl clung tightly onto the girl's shirt, "Please let me prove myself to you, I'll do anything Normani."

Normani shushed the girl and ran her fingers soothingly through her hair.

"Don't cry Lauren. I'm right here."

~~~

The two girls arrived back at the packhouse early that morning, Lauren emotionally and physically exhausted while Normani just didn't know what to do. She never really knew how deeply she affected the beta. Normani knew that Lauren had some type of love for her, but she never knew it was that deep.

Hours upon hours passed of guilt washing upon Normani's body. The Lauren she had seen for the past weeks was a strong beta that stood her ground and only showed emotion when necessary. The Lauren she had seen a couple hours ago was a fragile girl who just wanted to be loved. Normani didn't know how to feel about not only Lauren but her feeling towards her. She didn't have the love to give to Lauren like the Cuban wanted but she didn't want to see the girl that vulnerable ever again.

Normani sighed to herself as she rubbed her eyes. The brown skin girl could see sunlight gleaming through her window, making her sigh even harder. She turned her head to see the time upon the cable box stating 5:12am. Normani groaned to herself as she placed both of her hands on her face. She was only 18, why in the world was she stressing ? Especially in the summer time ??

The brown skin girl yawned and rubbed her eyes. It was too early for her to be stressing. Normani slowly stood herself up from the living room couch and stretched her sore muscles. The Southern Native wanted a change of scenery for the moment, so she decided to step out onto the patio; to watch the sunrise.

Normani stared at the sky before her, admiring the beauty she neglects to see daily. The sky was something that was always there but everyone seemed to neglect. The brown skin girl rubbed her eyes, trying not to fall asleep upon the beautiful sight. Sleepily, Normani walked her way towards the swinging bench and laid herself down. In a matter of seconds, the girl fell into a deep sleep, finally being able to let her tired body relax.

Little did she know, hours later, a certain group of people would be visiting the pack for an unexpected visit. As the group marched their way onto the land, the brown skin girl continued to sleep on, completely vulnerable to any attack.

8:54am and a large group of rogues stepped upon the pack's land, hungry for vengeance and revenge. Their leader limped his way to the back of the packhouse; a humongous bite mark upon his leg and a dark bruise coloring his pale face.

"It was for Ally at first, but now it's for you too Lauren." Corey spat out, looking at the place he once called home with hatred. The blonde boy flipped her hair before ordering the rogues beside him to take charge.

Meanwhile, inside the packhouse, stood a peaceful Kehlani sipping upon her morning tea. The mixed girl had no idea as to why she was up so early but didn't question it. She felt that these things happened to her for some strange reason and would find out soon. And soon she did.

Once the girl turned her head, looking through the open patio door, the gamma could see a crowd of wolves running from the far distance of the land. Instantly, the mug in the girl's hand was dropped as she ran through the house waking up everyone.

"Wake up ! We have rogues on their way ! Everyone get into their places ! Fighters, get ready because they're coming in fast !!" The tattooed girl yelled out to everyone. In a matter of minutes, Ally and Lauren were awake as well, directing their pack to where was necessary.

Lauren pushed her hair out of her eyes as she helped her gamma, "Those not fighting, go straight to the basement immediately ! All my fighters head towards the back and get ready !"

As everyone frantically ran to their locations, Dinah spun around, trying to find her best friend. She knew with close packed situations like such, the brown skin girl could be drowning in her anxiety. Normani was nowhere to be found and it terrified her best friend.

"Ally !" Dinah called out to the first person she knew could help, "Where's Mani ? I can't find her anywhere ! She could be hyperventilating somewhere !!"

The alpha instantly stopped directing the fighters and turned towards her mate, "You can't find Normani ?"

"No Ally, I'm scared. What if she passed out somewhere ?" The caramel girl cried out. She had never been in such a scary situation, being so alone and vulnerable scared her.

"We'll find her baby. I need you to go with everyone else because I can't afford you getting hurt, okay ? I'll find her Dinah-Jane, I promise." The Mexican girl placed a quick kiss upon the girl's cheek and nodded for her to go. Obediently, the Polynesian girl grabbed onto a passing by Camila and headed towards the basement.

Ally breathed out heavily knowing that Lauren would go ballistic if she told her Normani was nowhere to be found. She had to find the brown skin girl.

The alpha ran towards her beta and pulled her close, "Lauren, Dinah said she couldn't find Normani."

"What ?!" The beta shouted. Last time she saw her mate, she was too lazy to go up to her room and retreated towards the couch, "She was on the couch when we came back."

"Came back ? Came back from what ?"

The Cuban girl shook her head, "Not the time ! We need to find her before the rogues pull up."

The alpha nodded and grabbed her two leaders of the packs. The three girls arranged their stations and had everyone ready for defense. They had taught all of their pack fighters that death was not the objective but rather defense. The leaders didn't want anymore bloodshed in the pack, especially Ally.

In a matter of minutes, every fighter was out, defending their home. The toned wolves fighting against the rogues, fangs against fangs, claws against claws. Everyone seemed to be fighting for the objective of power. Kehlani and Ally fought harshly; having each other's backs for whoever came their way. Lauren herself on the other hand was falling behind her leaders, mind out of it as she prayed Normani was somewhere safe.

"That's everyone." Tori sighed out as she counted everyone for the second time. In the basement, all of the non-fighting wolves and Dinah were all confused and terrified as to what was going on. Nobody knew who or what was attacking but they just wanted it all to end.

All of sudden, a voice shrieked out, "Where's my baby ?! Where is August ?!"

Everyone's eyes scanned the area of the missing boy. Everyone knew August was a simple, obedient boy, why would he not be with everyone else ??

"I'll go find him." Camila stated as she pushed herself through everyone towards the basement door. Instantly, the omega sprang into action, running throughout the house, trying to find the curly haired boy.

After minutes of running and searching, the girl finally found the boy on the patio, leg stuck in a broken patio plank. The Cuban-Mexican girl ran out and began trying to pull the boy through. After more tugs and pulls, Camila successfully pulled the boy's leg through and hugged him tightly, "August we were so worried !"

"I was just getting flowers for my mommy and now everybody's fighting ! C-Camila make it stop." The small boy cried out as he clung tighter onto the mixed Latina's shirt.

Camila rubbed soothing circles upon the boy's back and shushed him, "I've got you now August. Your family is in the basement. Come on, let's go."

As the two were about to run off towards the basement, Camila spotted a particular brown skin girl lying upon the patio bench. She seemed strangely out of it. Instantly, the girl realized it was Normani.

Camila glanced down at the shaky boy, "August run to the basement as fast as you can. Don't look back and keep going. Do you understand me ?"

The boy nodded and bolted off towards the basement. Camila herself ran towards Normani, seeing as to the girl had some type of dart in her leg. The omega yanked the dart from her leg to feel a slight sting in her fingers.

"Rogue workings." The girl muttered to herself knowing that they'd gotten Normani. Camila let out a strong growl before transforming herself into her wolf. Over the past weeks, the mixed Latina had been working on her wolf's strength and size, both growing significantly. But sadly not enough to be adult size, Camila's wolf had now grown to adolescent size.

The furry brown abundance sprinted through the battle in search for her beta.

"Beta Lauren ! Beta Lauren !" The girl mindlinked.

The beta's head shot up from her fighting reviere. She didn't know exactly who called her name but had a slight feeling as to who.

"Camila ? Camila ?!"The omega ran through people, occasionally dodging snaps of teeth and scratches, "Beta Lauren I found her !"

"Who child ?" Lauren responded, while flipping a rogue over.

"Normani ! She was on the patio bench. The rogues hit her with one of their darts. I don't know her condition but she was in a deep sleep."

In a second, both the omega and beta met face to face, both out of breath. Lauren nodded at her friend, thanking her for her help.

"Lauren !" Camila mindlinked and also barked. The omega pushed the beta down, also using her for hopping leverage as she leaped to headbutt an attacking rogue. The sudden damage to the rogue sent them into an instant sleep, knocking them out. Camila on the other hand toppled over a bit, never experiencing such force before.

"I really didn't think that through. They look so much easier in the action movies." Camila slurred out, making Lauren let out a doggy snort of laughter. The older girl snuggled into the omega's side, and nudged for her to lead her to Normani.

Both girls ran towards the patio, Lauren's heart sinking a bit as she saw some of Normani's color draining. The green-gold eyed wolf looked at her friend, "Get her to the pack doctor in the basement."

"But Beta Lauren, I can't carry her. I'm too weak."

Lauren looked at the girl, a stern gaze in her eyes, "The scar upon your wrist states otherwise Camila. You are neither weak nor strong. You are you and you can do anything," The omega gulped and nodded, "Now go !"

Camila transformed herself back into her bare human form and gently lifted the brown skin girl, a grunt leaving her lips. Lauren looked at the girl, with a questioning look. She nodded at the beta and began walking towards the patio.

Before leaving, Camila was going to state something, turning around to say it but rather screamed out in terror, "Beta Lauren !"

~~~

The repetitive sound a beeping filled Normani's ears as her eyes blinked open. The sudden flash of bright white filled the girl's weak eyes, making her groan in pain. Once the sound left the girl's lips, a black haired pale girl, came to her beside.

"Oh my God, you're awake ! Thank God, I don't think I would've lived that down if you didn't."

Normani weakly lifted herself up to see she was lying in a hospital bed. The brown skin girl looked around, confused as to why she was there, "Am I... In a hospital ?"

The pale girl shook her head, "No and yes. You're in the pack hospital room."

"May I ask why ?"

"You were shot in the leg with a Rogue Dart. They injected it with some type of sleeping thing. You were out like a light."

At the mention of dart, Normani felt a slight sting in her leg, making her hiss to herself. The nurse's smile dropped at the sound of pain, "Oh no, it still hurts doesn't it ?"

"Yeah it does. You must be new to this, aren't you," Normani looked at the girl's name tag, "Elizabeth ?"

"Oh just call me Liz. And yeah, it's actually my first time alone. I'm usually working with Ariana and Avan. But somehow today, all of the pack doctors are working on something bigger."

"Something bigger ? What happened ?" Normani questioned, not understanding anything.

Liz sat herself down next to the patient, "There was a battle going on. Rogues came and attacked the pack."

"Attacked the pack ?!" The girl cried out, also hissing at the jolt she did in surprise, "Was anyone hurt ? Anyone killed ? Where's Dinah ?!"

"Thankfully our fighters only had minor injuries. But Beta Lauren had a big boo-boo." Liz nonchalantly stated.

Normani felt her body run cold at the statement. Lauren got hurt ?! What happened to Lauren ? What condition was she in ? An even harder wave of guilt ran through Normani as she realized that the girl she was ready to leave put her life on the line for everyone, including her.

"Where is she ? I have to go see her." The brown skin girl asked as she struggled to lift herself off of the hospital bed.

Instantly, Liz tried leading the girl to lie back down, "No. No. You have to rest some more Normani. Beta Lauren can wait, you still need to recover."

"No, I'm fine. Where is Lauren ?" She gritted out angrily. Nobody was going to stop her from seeing Lauren. She felt a great deal of emotion once she was told that the beta was hurt.

"You have to rest or your body won't get better Normani. Please just lay down." The pale girl tried convincing the girl, but was shot down by Normani yanking herself from Liz's hold.

"Lauren is my mate and I am going to figure out how the hell she is doing. I don't care about my health if she's nearly dying. Tell me where she is Elizabeth." The growl in Normani's tone was completely evident, making the nurse gulp.

Liz looked down at the floor, "She's next door. She came out of surgery, so she might not be awake."

Normani's eyes widened as she heard the mention of surgery. The brown skin girl limped her way to the room next door. The Southern Native breathed to herself before entering the hospital room.

There Camila stood up from her seat, not expecting the brown skin girl to be awake. One the contrary, Normani didn't even notice Camila, the sight of an injured Lauren brought her whole attention to her.

Her smooth milky skin now turned into a scary pale color. He usually kept hair was now sprawled all over the hospital mattress in a mess. There were patches of bruises scattered all over the girl's visible skin. A significant scratch upon the girl's neck.

Normani cautiously walked up towards Lauren, taking her hand softly. At the contact, a small whimper left Lauren's lips, her eyes still remaining shut. Normani flinched at the sound, already scared enough that she'd break the fragile girl.

The sound of the door closing brought Normani back from her deep thoughts. Camila was now out of the room, it just being her and Lauren. The brown skin girl shook her head and held Lauren's hand close, "I'm so sorry."

Tears streamed down Normani's face at the thought. Lauren could die before her and the last thing she ever heard her say to her was that she was leaving her.

"I promise you I'm not leaving you. Now you have to do the same Lauren. Please stay with me." Normani choked out in a sob as she laid her head upon Lauren's hand.

Suddenly, the monotonous repetitive peep turned into a long sounding peep. Normani's head shot up to see Lauren's vitals all flat. The brown skin girl's heart quickly sped up, taken aback by the change.

"No," She stated, looking at her non-active mate, "No ! No ! Lauren ! Lauren no !"

The brown skin girl looked around the hospital room, searching for some type of solution, "Lauren ! Lauren !"

Tears fled Normani's eyes as she felt her body become shaky. Lauren was dead.

"Lauren please. I'm not going anywhere, please."

The brown skin girl let herself go, tears and sobs leaving her as she cried out on her mate's body.

Unexpectedly, a hand flew up and hit the machine's side, making the long beep stop, and the repetitive beeping of the vital's coming back. Normani's head flew up to see Lauren, blinking her eyes open.

"I knew we should've invested in new hospital equipment. These cheap machines need to be replaced." Lauren rasped out as she hit the machine again.

A small laugh left Normani's lips at the statement. Soon enough, the brown skin girl was fully laughing at the statement. She doesn't know whether she was laughing because it was funny or laughing out of happiness that Lauren was still alive.

The brown skin girl continued to laugh, Lauren chuckling along with her, "That's like the second time that's happened. I'm talking about this at our next pack meeting."

Rather than Normani agree, she punched the girl harshly in the shoulder, "Oww ! Is that how you reward your savior ? With a punch ?"

"Don't you ever scare me like that again ! Do you know how worried I was when I heard you were hurt ! I damn near died !"

A small weak smile spread on Lauren's face, "You were worried about me ?"

"You're damn skippy I was worried about you ! I was four five seconds from fighting that stupid nurse Liz because she didn't want to give me your room." Normani pouted angrily at Lauren. Soon enough the brown skin girl engulfed her mate in a tight hug, "Don't you ever scare me like that Lauren."

"I won't love, I won't."

The green eyed girl wrapped her arms around Normani and smiled, "Can I your savior maybe get a little rewarding kiss too ?"

Almost instinctively, Normani punched Lauren again.

"Oww ! Oww ! Okay jeez, no kiss."