Numb.

That's all what Lauren felt. Her body should have responded to the nurses trying to speak with her in the hospital, but she didn't. Because she didn't feel anything.

She was numb.

Camila was here, sitting next to her. She was holding Lauren's hand, rubbing her fingers over Lauren's knuckles soothingly. Lauren didn't notice.

Out of all the people in the world... Chris?

Chris. Her idiot brother. The boy who annoys her to no end. Her little baby brother.

The doctors were doing everything they can to help him, but they were fighting a downhill battle. He lost so much blood, and he was beginning to become unresponsive.

Lauren stared at the same spot for hours, not noticing the movement going around her. Her mind was blank, her body was numb. She can't even remember how she got to the hospital in the first place.

Camila felt broken. She couldn't bear seeing Lauren like this. She also couldn't get the picture of Chris's mangled body out of her head. The bloodied mess on the ground, hearing the faint heartbeat, claw marks covering his body. It was horrendous.

He was alive, thank god, but barely. Camila couldn't help but feel responsible. She took Chris' attack as a warning.

It was now late into the night. She had ordered the rest of her pack and Liz to go home while she stayed with the Jauregui's for moral support. Lauren was still unresponsive while Taylor had fallen asleep on one of the couches. Clara and Mike were busy talking to the doctors.

Sooner or later Lauren fell asleep in Camila's arms, tears staining her cheeks. It hurt Camila internally.

"Hi, sweetie," Clara said softly, sitting down next to Camila. It was 3 in the morning, the waiting room was almost deserted.

"Hi," Camila croaked. "How is he?"

Clara let out a shaky breath. "They're managing, but, it doesn't look too great,"

Camila felt tears prick her eyes. "I'm so-"

"Oh, honey, it's not your fault," Clara said, wiping the tears off Camila's cheeks "I am so grateful you found him. Who would have known what would have happened if you- if you hadn't-"

Clara placed a hand over her mouth, sobbing silently. Camila took the hand that wasn't being used as a pillow by Lauren to rub Clara's back.

She didn't know what to say. This was different from any other situation she's ever been in. When her parents were murdered, she didn't have anyone to say "they're going to make it" because they were already dead. She didn't know if saying that to Clara would be comforting or setting her up for disappointment.

She contemplated on saying "I know what it's like to lose someone" but she thought that was selfish. So she opted to stay silent.

"Hey, kiddo," Mike said, walking up to the girls. "Why don't you go home? Get some rest. We all really appreciate you being here, but I don't want you wasting your time here when you could be sleeping,"

Camila glanced at the sleeping girl in her arms, then back up at Mike.

"With all due respect, Mr. Jauregui, I want to stay here. Not just for Lauren, but for Chris. I-I can't help but feel... responsible..."

"Sweetie, you had nothing to do with this," Clara said, putting a hand on Camila's shoulder. "This was a freak accident,"

Looking at Mike and Clara, Camila's stomach filled with guilt. If only they knew...

"I'm still sorry," Camila said quietly. "If there's any way I can help..."

"We'll be sure to let you know," Mike assured. "But for now, I want to get this girl home. I'll drive you back to your place,"

Lauren laid in the back seat, a blank expression on her face. Mike and Camila drove silently to Camila's cabin. Clara had gone ahead to get Taylor to bed.

"Is this around the area where you found him?" Mike asked as they turned onto the road to the Blue Moon forest.

"No that was on the other side," Camila said. "He was sort of near the lake, on an offshoot of a path,"

"How did you find him?" Mike asked.

Camila knew she couldn't say 'my psychic friend found him while looking for murderers' so she opted to go with the excuse she always gives people.

"My foster father likes to take us for hikes in the woods," she shrugged, feeling incredibly guilty.

"Ah, I should thank him for deciding to take you kids out tonight," Mike drummed the steering wheel. "What's his name?"

"Zayn Malik,"

"Got it," Mike stopped the car. The lights were still on at the house, no doubt the pack was up waiting for news.

Camila walked over to the side of the car and opened the door. Lauren sat there, unfazed.

Camila cleared her throat nervously. "Um, I'm going to leave now, bye,"

Lauren still didn't move. Camila quickly kissed her cheek before heading out.

She opened the front door and the pack, and Liz, stood up to greet her. Mike walked in behind.

"How is he?" Dinah asked. Camila shrugged half heartedly.

"He's managing," Mike said, trying to keep his voice from cracking. "I wanted to thank you all for finding my boy,"

"Oh, I'm glad we did," Zayn said, stepping forward. "He gave us quite a scare. I wish him all the best,"

Zayn held his hand out. "I'm Zayn,"

Mike's eyes almost bugged out of his head. "You're Zayn?"

"Right, I am, mate," Zayn grinned.

"You're a kid,"

"I am actually twenty-five,"

"How do you raise all these teenagers by yourself?"

"Oh, it's quite simple. Slipping them alcohol helps," Zayn smirked. This made Mike's eyes widen even more.

"Joking! I'm joking, man," Zayn assured, putting up his hands in surrender. "Sorry. Jokes are probably tasteless right now due to the circumstances,"

"It's alright. A laugh might be something I need right now,"

"Then don't talk to Camila," Bea pipped up. "She tries to be funny and fails,"

"Yeah, the only one who finds her funny is Lauren," Ally added.

"Oh crap, Lauren!" Mike shook his head. "I forgot she was in the car. Thank you again for finding my son. It was nice meeting you,"

"Bye," Zayn called after him, shutting the door.

"So did you find anything?" Camila asked Liz.

Liz yawned. "I went back to the place where he was attacked. The only things that came to me were letters, but I have no idea what they mean,"

Liz handed Camila a piece of paper. She scribbled down the letters A, C, L, J, and P.

"Do these mean anything to you?" Liz asked.

Camila shook her head. "No, nothing,"

Zayn sighed. "Alright kids. It's currently 3:45 AM, and you have school in the morning,"

The pack groaned.

"Can't you let us skip, Zayn? It's too late to get to bed and someone needs to keep Liz company all day," Dinah pleaded.

"Fine. Yeah, let's do that," Zayn sighed. He walked up by Camila while the others headed upstairs. "Are you okay?"

"I feel like shit," Camila admitted. "Is this my punishment for not listening to him?"

"Hey, don't beat yourself up," Zayn comforted. "It's not your fault,"

"Everyone keeps telling me that!" Camila slammed her hands on the table angrily. "Everyone keeps saying 'it's not your fault, Camila!' 'Don't blame yourself for this, Camila!' Well guess what? This is my fault. It's my job to protect these people and make sure sickos like Bieber and his cronies don't kill people and I failed! Multiple times,"

Camila ran her hands through her hair furiously, heavily panting. Tears were forming in her eyes.

"Maybe Jade was right," Camila said quietly. "Maybe a sixteen year old can't be an Alpha,"

"Jade doesn't know shit," Zayn said calmly. "I truly mean this when I say it, Camila. This isn't your fault.

"Yes it-"

"Camila," Zayn said again. "This is some twisted bastard's work. It has nothing to do with you, I promise,"

Camila started to cry, feeling helpless. She knew Zayn meant well, but his words didn't help.

"Let's get you to bed," Zayn said, helping the girl up. "You've had a long day,"

~~

Lauren sat in the seat next to her brother, hearing the machines beep continuously as the nurses and doctors rushed in and out of the room.

She didn't know what time it was or what day, she was too out of it to understand. All she did was stare at the wall.

She didn't even notice Camila was there until the girl tried to get Lauren to drink something. Apparently she had been trying to contact Lauren verbally and telepathically for an hour.

"You have to drink," she said softly.

"No," Lauren croaked. Camila was taken aback, she didn't expect a reaction to come out of Lauren.

"Please," Camila asked. "Do it,"

"I don't want to,"

"Lauren-"

"No," she said firmly. She looked at Camila, hatred in her eyes. "This is your fault,"

Camila felt her mouth go dry. Lauren looked so angry.

"Lauren Michelle," Clara scolded. "Do not blame Camila. She did nothing wrong,"

"You know exactly what you did," Lauren said bitterly.

Camil felt her heart drop from her chest. Was this really happening?

"You're toxic," Lauren croaked out, her voice cracking. Tears started to spill out of her eyes. They came out of Camila's, too. "Everyone around you dies,"

She's saying this because she's hurt, Camila told herself. Only because she's hurt,

"Lauren," Clara said, shocked that her daughter would say something like that. "That is a terrible thing to say,"

Lauren regretted those words as soon as she said them. She cupped her hands over her mouth.

Camila got off her chair. "I should go-"

"Camz," Lauren croaked, reaching out. "I'm sorry-"

"I think it's best if you stay here with your family," Camila wiped the tear out of her eyes, trying to pass it as if it were nothing. "I'll talk to you later,"

"Camila-"

"Goodbye Lauren," Camila couldn't look at her without feeling worse. "Bye, Mrs. Jauregui,"

Camila shut the door, letting the tears spill freely. Lauren cried on the other side, letting the sobs wrack her body. She felt like shit saying that to Camila. She wished that she could take it back, knowing that the girl actually had nothing to do with her brother's attack. She was just upset and Camila happened to be in her line of fire.

She really fucked up this time.

~~

The quiet hospital set an eerie vibe, especially late at night. The only workers were half asleep, barely noticing a skinny girl slipping through the doors into one of the rooms.

Camila looked at Chris's body with dread. She felt this pit in her stomach that kept eating away at her, like some monster. She couldn't keep it down.

Chris looked so tiny, so fragile. His state was comtastic, and his vitals had seen better days. His heartbeat wasn't the best, and Camila could heart it faltering. All because of her...

Camila swallowed thickly, set on what she was about to do. She looked through the window in Chris's room, staring at the crescent moon.

She called to the moon goddess to give her strength, and to help her in her next move. In the mirror, she saw that her eyes began to glow gold.

She had only done this once before, when she was about thirteen, and she found Jacob dying on the street.

Camila took Chris's arm, the one that had the IV, and stared at the flesh. She felt her teeth curve into the sharp canines she only feels once a month.

Chris was in this state because of her, and she wanted to fix this. Not just for Lauren, but for Chris. The boy had so much to live for.

She bit down, letting her teeth sink into the boy's flesh. She felt the metallic taste of blood fill her mouth, staining her teeth and lips and causing her to gag. There was so much medicine in his blood, it burned in Camila's mouth.

Chris's body started to convulse, letting the venom sink in. The machines attached to him started to make loud beeping noises.

Camila wiped the blood off her face and ran. The nurses and doctors would be there any minute, and she didn't want to be there for when they started to check on Chris's stats. She knew he was going to be okay.

And perhaps, maybe adding another member to the pack wouldn't be a bad thing.

~
idk did it suck probably idk I can't write sad angst

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