Peggy's POV

I got up four hours earlier than I normally did. Rubbing a hand across my face, I slide quietly out of bed, making sure that it didn't look like I slept in it. I walk into my closet and pull out several of my oldest clothes. I toss them onto the bed and hunt for my duffle bag. Finding it, I grab three pairs of black tenny shoes. 

PEGGY, WHERE WOULD WE GO?

I'M NOT SURE LEIGH. BUT ANYWHERE IS BETTER THAN HERE RIGHT NOW. WE"LL BE BACK IN A MONTH, MAYBE. 

She sighs as I start packing my bag. Walking over the the picture of my mom and dad, I pull it off the wall revealing my hidden safe. Punching in the ten digit code, I open the door and remove my stash. Throwing it in the bag, I sit down at my desk to write a note to my brothers. They at least should know why I was running. 

I just hated to be a disappointment to them. Biting my lip to keep from crying, I start the letter. 

Dear Brothers, 

I'm sorry to say that by the time y'all are reading this, I'll be long gone. Please don't come looking for me. I am fine and I'll be back home soon. I can't stand being around the pack anymore. The bullying that I've recieved behind y'all's backs has been alomst to much for me to bear. The pack only does it because they blame me for mom and dad's death. 

I really did love the party you threw me last night. And the car was perfect, but y'all shouldn't have bought it. The money should have went toward the school or the park. I was content to ride my bike. But thanks anyway for it. 

Being rejected by my mate last night was the final staw. I just need some time and space to sort my thoughts out. Don't worry about me, Mom and Dad will be looking out for me. 

Love Always, 

Peggy

I grab my keys and duffle bag and walk out of my room. Shutting the door, I slide down the banister. Placing my note on the fridge so Travis, Jim or Will would be able to see it, I turn and unlock the front door. Closing it and locking it back, I hurry to the drive way. 

I smile when I see my new car. Throwing my bag into the back seat, I slide behind the wheel. Grinning like a fool when I heard the purr of the engine, I shoot out of the driveway. Sending one last glance towards Travis's window, I push everything to the back of my mind and pull away. 

Driving for two hours, I slowly let my mind drift. Everything that happened to me in the last year came pouring into my mind. I should have paid more attention to the road. A horn blaring at me pulled me out of my thoughts. And just in time to see that I was flying off the side of the road and into a ravine. Muttering a sting of cusses, I watch quitely as the ground races up to meet me. 

The sound of metal crunching, glass breaking, and my screams fill the air. Pain courses through my body, and thankfully darkness claims me quickly. 

Jim's POV

I wake up slowly and just stare at the ceiling. Listening to the silence of the house, I'm surprised that I'm the first to wake. Usually, Peggy would be in the kitchen making breakfast for us. I jump out of bed and step out into the hall. Heading toward the kitchen, I pause in front of Peggy's door. Deciding on letting her sleep in after what happened last night, I turn quickly and jog down the stairs. I turn on the coffee maker before I open the front door to get the morning paper. 

As I look around, the feeling that something's wrong hits me. But I couldn't figure it out, so I turn and head back inside. I lay the paper on the table for Travis. Out of the whole house, he's the only one who reads the thing. The pups love to read the comic strips though. Wanting to surprise Peggy with breakfast, I walk up to the fridge and open it. Pulling out the eggs, bacon, and pancake mix, I slowly start to close it. 

A small flash of white in the corner of my eye catches my attention. Setting the things down on the counter, I bend and pick it up. I was just going to put it back on the fridge, but stopped when I saw Peggy's handwriting. Looking around, I just skim over it. Surprised, I read it slowly. Again and again. As her words hit me, I race out of the house to the driveway. Not seeing her car, I run to the garage, but again no car. 

Baffled, I run back into the house hollaring for Will and Travis. "TRAVIS! WILL! PEGGY'S GONE!" I yell as I run up the stairs to Peg's room. Kicking the door down, I step in. Her room was the picture of clean and tidy. If it hadn't been for her closet door being open, and the picture of mom and dad leaning against her desk, I would have sworn that no one had been in this room at all. 

I turn when I hear my brothers come in behind me. I hand Travis the letter and just crash on Peggy's bed. 

Travis's POV

I was just about to start the water for a shower when I hear Jim yelling. Planning on ignoring it, I bolted out of my room when I heard him say that Peggy was gone. Hearing her door land on the floor, I hurry out of my room towards her's. I almost run into Will as he came rushing out of his. We look at each other than at Jim. 

Before I could ask anything, he hands me a piece of paper. I could catch a small whisper of her scent off the paper. I read it slowly, my anger building up slowly. By this time, the pack members have gathered out in the hall. Hearing the door bell ring, I give them all a murderous look as I make my way back down the stairs. EVERYONE STAY WHERE YOU ARE. AFTER WHOEVER THIS IS LEAVES, I NEED TO TALK TO Y'ALL!

I open the door. Freezing when I see Saul and his partner, both state police, on my porch. "Can I help y'all?'

"Yes, sir." Saul starts. "Are you Al...Mr. Travis McBride?" Because of his human job, Saul has to pretend that he doesn't know me or any member of our pack. "I am. Like I said, how can I help y'all?" I take a deep breath and get hit with the smells of smoke, gasoline, death and another scent. In a second I realize it's Peggy's. I narrow my eyes as I look at them. Saul looks like he needs a new pair of pants. But he squares his shoulders and looks me in the eye. 

"Sir, we regret to inform you that two hours ago, one Ms. Peggy Alexandra McBride, lost control of her car. It ran off the road and into a deep ravine. Rescue workers were sent right away, but by the time they were able to scale down the slope, her car was in flames. After figthing the flames for an hour, they were finally put out. Nothing but ash was inside sir. But we were able to find this bag and her purse hanging from a limb." He hands them to me, and her scent slowly fills my nose. 

I nod at them and shut the door. I stand there until I hear their car drive away. Turning around, I could tell that my eyes are pitch black. Looking at my miserable excuse for a pack, I yell at them. "SHE"S DEAD! EVERYONE OF YOU ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS. AND WHEN I FIND WHO HER MATE WAS, HE HAD BETTER PRAY THAT I NEVER DO. HE IS DEAD WHEN I FIND HIM. DEAD!!!" 

Jim and WIll's face is pale white. They open their mouths but then close them. The pack members hang their heads and slowly make their way back to their rooms. Gripping the staps to her things tigher, I punch the wall, leaving a huge hole. 

I go to my office and slam the door. Placing her purse in my safe, I slowly open the duffle bag. Only four outfits and three pairs of shoes, along with $5,000 stared back at me. I sit in my chair just staring at the bag. IF SHE HAD ONLY CAME TO ME AND TOLD ME ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO HER, I COULD HAVE PROTECTED HER. 

SHE WAS PUTTING THE PACK FIRST, TRAV. JUST LIKE MOM AND DAD TAUGHT US. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, SHE SHOULD HAVE TOLD US. 

IS SHE REALLY GONE?

I CAN'T HEAR HER THROUGH BOTH LINKS. 

I block them out. Placing the duffle bag in the safe as well, HER MATE HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MALES IN THE PACK, Rein, my wolf says. 

ANY MALE FROM MY, OUR, PACK WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO REJECT HER. 

THEY WOULD KNOW BETTER YES. BUT BECAUSE THEY WOULD SEE HER NOT TALKING AS A HANDICAP, SOME WOULD STILL REJECT HER. IF ONLY FOR THAT REASON. 

Growling at him, I start to go over the list of guys who were at the party. I had seen all but Job, Samuel, and Garrett outside that night. I trusted Job. He was like a big brother to Peggy as well. It had to be one of the other two. But neither of them were in town this week, so that left only Job. 

I suddenly remember that I hadn't seen him with the rest of the memebers just a little while ago. Shaking my head, I look at Peggy's picture on my desk. Cursing her mate, I let the tears fall. I would find him and kill him slowly for what he did to my sister.