Not edited. When is it ever?

       I'm collected. I'm calm. I'm motherfucking pristine.

I think.

After sobbing hysterically into Liam's arms for god-knows-how-long, I had managed to reduce my tears into tiny whimpers and sunk into the couch with Liam by my side. He draws his attention to Adam then, scowling and glaring. I'm not surprised to say the least but I mean, come on. Your girlfriend is crying over her dead father and you're worried about her ex-mate-to-be? 

Well, it sounds weird when you put it like that.

Either way, I try to sit up and listen to what everyone is saying and resist letting the tears flow anymore. But I can't stop shaking. And of course, bickering resumes once again. 

I sigh.

"Is that why you broke Ronnie's nose? Over him?" Liam spits. 

"No! And I didn't mean to. I wanted to hit Alfie-"

Jeremy cuts her off, "You have anger issues!"

"I didn't mean to! She got in my way!" She deflects. Yeah, it was so horrible of me trying to refrain you from hitting one of the people we need on our side.

"Excuses!" Jeremy hollers. Liam nods.

"Yeah, well, Ronnie kicked the shit out of me. Reprimand her for that." Cliff adds.

"Fuck you asshole." I retort. You know, through my sniffles.

"Stella's on her period or some shit. That or she's possessed," Jeremy blabbers. "I'm scared for my life, frankly. One night I'm gonna wake up to her sacrificing me."

"Oh shut up dickhead." Stella hisses. "You know no clue what's going on with me."

"Then explain it to us!" Liam adds.

"Exorcism! Exorcism!" Jeremy goes out of his way to do the sign of the cross in front of still and plants a hand on her forehead. "Demon child! Demon child!"

Adam cowers in the cower through the midst of it and Stella and Jeremy develop into a full blow argument, as per usual. Eventually, Liam grows frustrated with them and commands them to stop. Jeremy goes out of his way to aggravate us with screaming, "With the power of Christ, I compel you!" Every ten seconds. But that's Jeremy. He loves making a joke out of serious situations.

Seriously, you'd think we'd all band together and realize the severity of the situation, but no. Jeremy and Stella resort to having a pretend exorcism while Liam glares daggers at Adam and Cliff does the same to me. What is civility and where can I purchase some?

Oh, who am I kidding? If it wasn't for the fact I'm a mess I'd probably kick Cliff's ass a second time around. But add in a curb stomp, because, well, I really want to curb stomp somebody. 

Rosalyn eventually wonders in, paired in tight pink shorts and a sports bar with her hair pulled into a high pony. I envy Rosalyn for the fact that she can still look like a goddess even when she's sweaty. "What is going on?" She shrieks, throwing her hands up and glancing between Stella and Jeremy. They pause. Blue eyes drift to Cliff and Adam. "Who are these people and what happened to you last night, Ronnie? Oh my god, Ronnie!"

She rushes over to me, patting away tears and raking manicured fingers through my hair. At least Rosalyn seems to care. "Why are you all bickering with her crying?" She questions. Cliff snorts and her eyes draw to him again. He gives her a haughty brow raise. "Who are you?" She echoes.

"Cliff," Slowly, his eyes rake over her figure with pursed lips. "And you are?"

"Hey!" Jeremy hollers. Finally his attention has been drawn away from tormenting Stella. "I'm the only one that gets to perv on Rosalyn."

Rosalyn flushes but doesn't respond, instead pestering me to let her fix me up. Liam rejects because he wants to keep an eye on me but I'm desperate to get away just in case I break into waterworks again. So I comply.

Stella stays with Cliff and Adam, just so Liam won't attack Adam. And Jeremy trails after us, watching Rosalyn tend to my bruised nose. She convinces me to take a shower and I do, watching all the dried blood wash out from my hair and scrub at my fingernails. Rosalyn applies ointment to my nose along with a fresh bandage and a pair of black sweats with a tang top. 

Liam forces me to eat. But I feel sick so I push it away after the first few bites. He's disgruntled, though doesn't push me. 

From there, I lounge on the couch and wait for someone to break the silence. It seems that now that we've all regrouped, we don't know what to say.

I don't care what it as long as no one screams. I have a headache. And a broken nose. And a dead father. Someone give me a break.

If  bad luck is a person, I imagine that he or she is just up there, flipping through names before choosing my name each time. That or I'm cursed. I just want to cuddle with Liam, but he's too busy having a staring contest to acknowledge my insistent tugging on his shirt to lay down next to me. I imagine it would be awkward for everyone anyway. 

"I didn't know Stella broke your nose," Adam stutters, breaking the silence. I examine him under wet locks of hair that has stuck to my face. 

Stella stiffens at it being brought up again, folding her arms over her chest. I peek over the couch to see Belle at the bottom of the stairs with Alfie trailing behind her. I motion them over. Introductions aren't given, but they don't seem to care.

I wonder about why they hadn't told us. Especially Belle. Most likely because she hadn't expected to discover Alfie as her mate. It's the first other pair that I've met are true mates, and you can tell, by the way they curl around each other and Alfie does not hesitate to glare at Adam and Cliff. They're new males and I'm sure he doesn't like them around her. It's sweet, I guess. I ponder if that's what Liam and I look like.

"I'm really sorry I did, Ronnie." Stella says. I meet her eyes and then trail to Alfie. "And I suppose I'm sorry to Aflie as well." She scrunches her face for a minute, before relaxing and regaining a look of neutrality.

"Don't be," He voices calmly. "You should say sorry to Belle. And stop calling her 'goth girl.' She doesn't like it."

"Well, maybe she should have said it her-" Stella pauses and I glare at her. Don't you dare mess this up. She clears her throat and forces out, "I'm sorry Belle. It was insensitive of me."

Belle nods, "It's okay." She murmurs. Alfie rubs her shoulder and she sends him a small smile. "Really. It is."

"Thank you," Stella forces a smile of her own. "This is Adam and Cliff. They're from Ronnie's old pack."

Alfie's brows furrow at this, "Then aren't they enemies?"

"We're no longer with said pack." Adam answers. "But it's lovely to meet you both."

Liam grunts and I tap him with my foot to refrain from saying something that might cause another outburst. Not from Adam - he just ins't the type to fight with someone - but most likely from his new guard dog, Cliff. 

And I'm sure Cliff would defend him for the purpose of solely starting another fight with me. And having the privilege to insult me. Then again, I am sure if he did throw insult at me, Liam would beat his ass for me. 

That'd be fun to watch. 

"We escaped about a week or so ago. And came here right away, though, yes, most of you must be disgruntled by our appearance-" Liam grunts and Adam pauses. Then continue. "We're here to help."

"How do we know that you really aren't with your old pack?" Alfie questions. His eyes narrow on the blonde and Adam stands, suddenly, startling us all as he lifts his shirt. Most likely I would be more horrified if I hadn't seen them before. It's more bruises and scars, along with various burn marks that I can only imagine would be horrible to acquire. Some are old, and some are new. 

I knew Adam when he was being abused and wrote him off as scum for being a coward, without knowing or asking. But wouldn't you be scared for your life if your own father hit you? Belittled you? He grew up being afraid. For that reason, I don't hate him. And when he told me of his father abusing him, I hadn't felt anger like I once held before. If anything, it was mere sympathy. I think it's kind of like the situation with my father.

I was so hellbent on pushing him away because of my own hurt that I never bothered to ask him how he felt. Not until I had to run and he had to die. 

Don't you dare cry.

I won't. I won't cry. And surprisingly, I don't.

My father is dead but I cannot let myself sink into my own pity party once again. Life is a bitch. A real bitch. It's best to power through. I find crying and then forcing myself to keep on going is the best thing you can do in a situation like this. 

I need to be ready for the Purgatory and Beckett, anyway. 

"My father abused me my whole life. After he.." Adam glances to me. I give my consent. "After he had Ronnie's mother killed, it got worse and the pressure to step up was hard. I'm not here because I want you to feel sorry for me, which I highly doubt any of you feel. And that's fine, I don't deserve it. I was a coward for not refusing my father to mate with Ronnie. But I've had a lot of time to think and I am glad this has happened. It's given me a push to defy my father and leave and help the people I should have been helping in the first place." He tugs his shirt down and sits down. Rosalyn's lips quiver and Stella blinks. Her fingers twist together.

"I'm sorry." It's the third time she's said it today. A record. I can feel earnestly in it this time. They share a similarity. "No one deserves to be treated like that. If it helps, I have plenty too-" Stella makes a point to roll up her pants and display similar scars I've once seen. "I required mine from the Purgatory when I was fourteen."

Adam's eyes soften. "I'm sorry as well." 

Stella nods and awkwardly shifts, clearing her throat and tucking her hair behind her ear. Jeremy clasps a hand onto her's, squeezing and sending a meek smile. Rosalyn also grasps her hand and Stella does not pull away, rather just stare at the wood floor. I muster a smile. 

"So then what's your plan?" Alfie persists. Adam's attention draws back to the group, though a thoughtful expression remains on his face. 

"Well, Wisconsin. Ronnie's aunt live there and they run a pack of about, fifty members. My father is tired of waiting and soon he'll come marching. The Purgatory, thankfully, are not on good terms with him so they aren't helping. But my father will come to find me. And Ronnie." He explains. A sound of displeasure arises from Liam.

"Does your father still want you and Ronnie to mate?" He asks. Surprisingly, he seems calm. Either way, I shift and make sure to scoot closer just in case he gets angry. I clasp my hand in his and our finger entangle in silence.

"Yes," Adam states dully. "He still likes to entertain the prospect of us having children."

"Do you still entertain the idea of you and Ronnie together?" Liam's tone is sharp. I tense. Adam's mouth opens to answer but Liam beats him to it, "Don't bullshit me."

Adam rethinks his answer. I'm sure if Liam wouldn't have called him out, he would have lied. And kept a straight face the whole. Adam is good at that. "I suppose," He drawls. It's truthful and painful and I want to scream at him to not say anymore, but he continues and it's like he's digging his own grave. "I've known Ronnie since we were young. Of course I thought we'd end up together, because everyone always implanted the idea into our heads. I liked the idea of it. But she's made it clear that she doesn't feel the same and that you both have mated. And I will respect that. And I won't come between you two."

Liam is pensive as he examines the blonde. I hold my breath - I don't know, I'm expecting the worse at this point - but Liam nods. "Good." Que sigh of relief. "But I don't want you alone with her. If you want to help us, you'll have understand I don't trust you. Not around my pack or my mate. You'll have to respect that as well." Or nah. 

"Of course," Adam responds diplomatically. "Are your fellow pack mates here?"

We nod. 

"We'll need them to discuss the plan."

        And so it is decided. Adam and Cliff are welcomed into the house, though not the group. Liam has made that painfully evident when he assigns them to sleep in the medical room. They leave shortly to collect their stuff from the hotel. I'm exactly happy about Cliff staying under the same room as me - breathing the same air as me is hard enough - but I keep my lips shut to refuse starting conflict. Belle and I help Rosalyn with dinner. 

We will depart for Wisconsin in a few days, after we get associated with working with each other here and hopefully, my aunt will help us like Adam insists she will. If she does, we'll charge for Beckett's pack. Surely, the Purgatory will follow. 

Calla and Lance have left, so has Liam's father. It is only us in the house and most are questioning what they are going to do after this is all over.

We move to the table. We - more like Rosalyn - has prepared a lasagna and plenty of garlic bread along with pitchers of lemonade. She's also stored jam and biscuits for later. She's practically the only one keeping us alive at this point when it comes to eating. 

"I don't want to return to my pack," Rosalyn voices. "My mom and dad are wonderful, but I have no interest in returning."

"Me either," Tristan chimes. It's been forever since I've seen the dude. He's always Rosalyn's follower and as of now, he hasn't made a point to socialize. 

"I don't want to return. My parents sent me because they thought I wasn't coming back. So I won't." Belle mumbles. "Besides, Alfie and I stay together." She flashes him a shy smile and he rakes a hand through blue hair, pulling her in for a lingering kiss earning wide eyes and a collective aw's from the girls. Stella wretches in disgust. Jeremy stuffs a garlic bread in his life and smiles at Rosalyn with his cheeks full. She giggles.

Cliff shovels down food while Adam twiddles with his fork. "I'm not sure what I'll do," He says. "Maybe stay a rogue."

"Stella and I are a package deal," Jeremy nudges her ribs and she shoots him a look. "And we'll stay with Ronnie and Liam. Best friends unite!" He hollers, thrusting his fist out for us four to bump. I do so with a laugh and Liam rolls his eyes, removing his arm from around my shoulder to return it. Stella swats him away. 

"Have you ever thought that some of us won't be going home at all? Cause we'll be dead?" Paz says. It's the first time I've ever heard him speak. It draws everyone's eyes to him and of course, the mood is killed. Though for good reason.

It's a harsh reality, but a reality nonetheless.

"That's why we'll be prepared. I can't disagree with you, but we prepare for it." Liam responds. I nod, leaning my head into the crook of his neck and wrapping an arm around his torso.

"Yeah, don't kill the mood Maz." Jeremy retorts with a mouthful of food. I roll my eyes at him. 

"He was just stating the reality of the situation, Jeremy." I say. "And it's Paz."

"Maz, Paz, Waz. Whatever." He waves it off but sends a sheepish smile to Paz. Paz offers one back. 

When dinner ends, the dishes are piled up and the group disperses into their own areas. Cliff socialize's with Alfie's friends - figures - while Adam remains seating on the couch, occasionally chiming on conversations. Jeremy is after Rosalyn and Stella examines everyone, narrowing her gaze at the blonde and chattery bunch of girls that are starting to cluster around him. They're high pitched laughter is sure to make everyone's ears bleed.

"Stella." I call. She looks to me. "Help me with the dessert, yeah?"

She looks reluctant, but complies and helps me line up the dishes. Everyone shouts what they want and we pile cookies and biscuits covered in strawberry jam onto the plate. 

"It's made with Chia seeds," Rosalyn babbles to Stella. She waves her off. Rosalyn doesn't seem bother and files out of the kitchen with plates in her hands that are quickly snatched. 

"Does it hurt?" Stella asks out of the blue. I glance at her over my shoulder as I scrub at a plate. I don't have to ask her to know what she's talking about. 

"No. Rosalyn snapped it back in real quick." I hand her the wet dish. "Help me dry?"

So she does. "I know. Jer told me. But I'm really sorry. I didn't think you would jump between us and I'd hit you. Liam's super pissed at me. I'm super pissed at me." She mumbles the last part to herself, running the towel over the plate slowly with a sigh. 

"You can't get angry like that anymore, Stella." I say and she begins to protest but I stop her, holding a finger up to my lips signaling for her to let me speak. "We can't afford to lose anyone. And we don't want to lose you. Liam could be forced to kick you out or lose members and we need to stay together right now. Even if it does include Adam and dickface Cliff."

"I know that. I didn't mean to get angry." She puts the dish down, facing me and I know it must be serious. "It's-"

"Ronnie!" Rosalyn calls and she appears in the doorway, blonde curls swinging around her as Jeremy wrestles her back onto the couch. "Come join. You too Stella."

I shake my head, "I'm just going to-"

"Come on," Liam groans and pulls me out, hauling me over his shoulder and delivering a sharp smack to my backside. I nearly scream.

Through the curtain of my hair, I watch Stella's eyes drift to the ground. Her demeanor is different. Softer. Whatever it must be, it must be serious.

I frown.

Liam tosses me onto the couch, secures an arm around me and whispers, "Are you going to be okay for tomorrow?"

Tomorrow we will resume training, with two new recruits. I nod. Tonight I will spend the night with the girls, Rosalyn has demanded we do so and I didn't complain. Stella neither. I won't get to speak to Liam privately till tomorrow night. Good, he won't lecture me till then.

"I will be," I say, reciting Stella's words for the other day. I pull him in for a kiss, ignoring the hoots and hollers. I roll my eyes when I pull back and meet Jeremy's orbs of blue that are filled with mirth. 

"So how was the sex?"

So the torment begins. It's better than fighting, at least.

        Liam totally kicks our asses the next morning. We're up bright and early. Rosalyn has treated my black bags with various facial masks and cucumbers last night. I don't feel up for the day - it's pretty hard to even gather myself at this point - but I push on when Stella encourages me to do so. 

Adam is still really sore, so he sits out and we provide him with ointment and bandages and soon enough, he's all wrapped up and lounging on the porch. Liam insists I sit out as well but that just gives me time to think which I don't want to right now. So we run and do exercise and it's dreadful. Jeremy fakes fainting and saves us all. 

At least, I think he faked it.

It's funny that Jeremy can be energetic all the time yet when it comes to working out, he's reluctant and lazy. 

There's no sparring, thankfully, but most likely we'll be forced to later in the week. We leave this Saturday, so I will dreadfully pack once again and hope for the best along with everyone else. 

The day continues with chatter and plenty of food. Liam finally pulls me aside when the group is busy playing a stupid game of truth and dare. Within minutes of it, two of the girls were dared to kiss. It's not a shock. The boys are dirty minded.

We sneak up to the room and lock it, just in case Jeremy decides to charge in. 

"What you did was stupid." why? I flop onto the bed, waiting for him to continue. But when he doesn't, I open my eyes to peer at him. "But I get why you did it. And I know, even though you may not show it, you're hurting because of your father."

At the mere mention, my facade has cracked and I quickly push myself up and tug at my damp hair as I bite down onto my lip. "Having Cliff here isn't easy either."

"I wouldn't think so," Liam murmurs. The bed dips as he gets onto the other side and leans against the headboard beside me. "He hasn't taken responsibility for Anna."

"He won't," I croak. "He blames me."

"That's bullshit," Liam spits. It makes me flinch. Quickly, he draws me into his arms once again and states softer. "It's bullshit."

I laugh, though nothing is really funny. "I know," I say. "I never thought I would see him again. Or Adam. It's true what he was talking about earlier, he expressed his feelings for me." Liam tenses, drawing back to explain my face. I feel ridiculous. "I don't get why boys like me. I'm Ronnie."

Liam chuckles, running a finger across my cheek. His fingers feel cool and smooth against my cheek and I lean into his touch. "Because they're boys. I'm a man. See? Difference." Liam comments and it makes me laugh again, genuinely again. "What'd you reply to him?"

"Well, I showed him my mark." With that, Liam's fingers drift to the exposed bite that displays what only occurred a night or two ago. I shiver when he traces and then leans, pressing a soft kiss there, trailing to my neck and to the back of my ear. "And that I was in love you. Solely you and that him and I will never be together. Basically, I friendzoned his ass."

Liam laughs, at the expense of Adam. It's cruel.

Either way, Liam hoists me onto his lap. I place my knees outside of his thighs and rest there, entangling my fingers into the short strands of hair at the back of his neck. "But he also told me about my father. And how he went." Liam understands, drawing me close and resting our foreheads together. "I'm going to kill Beckett, Liam. I will. He's taken my mom, my dad, Anna, and I won't let him take anymore."

"All of this will be over soon, Ronnie. No more people will go."

"And then what? What after?" I ask curiously. I drag my nails down his neck, causing him to shiver. "I need to finish school."

"Senior year," Liam muses. "Maybe Stella and Jeremy will join."

"Now that would be eventful," I laugh. And it truly would be. Stella would probably scare half of the student population, while Jeremy eggs her on. "Then what?"

"Babies," He deadpans.

"What is with everyone wanting me to have kids?" I whine.

"I think we all just want mini Ronnie's and Liam's."

"Please, no more Liam's," I joke. Liam laughs and I do too. And that's the great part about us, our life has gone to shit yet we can find laughter and comfort with each other. The sentiment has gotten to me and I feel closer with Liam, especially now that we've progressed to a whole new level on our relationship. "I never did get a repeat like I expected from the other night."

Liam cocks a brow, brushes his lips against mine. "Really?"

I hum against his lips, drawing him in for a kiss. I detach only to bring my shirt over my head, tossing it to the side. Liam admires my bare chest with kisses and nips and I lead him back to his lips. He tastes like strawberry jam. It makes me forget about anything when his tongue searches for mine, his hips grinding into mine as I pant into his mouth. And that's what I want, to forgot about Anna, my father, and just about everything else and completely lose myself in Liam. 

He tosses his shirt to the side too, "I'll make everything okay, baby," He pants against my lips, pressing our chests against each other as he flips us over and settles between my thighs. I can feel the proof of excitement against my leg as he rotates.

I said I'd never have sex in a house full of people. But then again, I said I would never have sex in the first place.

I guess sometimes you just gotta say fuck it.

And pray that no one hears.

-----------------------

Another chapter for you lovelies!! Three chapters in three days. I'm trying to get as many as I can out before I move. I need to be prepared, lol. 

Lonnie gettin' it on at the end. I'm really contemplating just posting all their smut on a separate page or something. I don't know, maybe that makes me dirty? But I love their intimate moments, as creepy as that sounds.

And a lot of you guys want a third book. Maybe some foreshadowing at the end? Hmmm. You guys really wanna see a pregnant Ronnie but I'm unsure. I know that they are meant to have kids - Liam really wants them - but ehhh. Leave your opinion down below. I'm not saying it's going to happen, nor am I saying that it isnt. Just wanna know everyone's thoughts on it. If I am even going to write a third book, I need opinions.

And yeah, Stella's got some major issues. They go way beyond the Purgatory and her past right now. Something else is troubling her but what could it be? Who knows? Oh yeah, ME! :P

And this is Lonnie's song at the end of this chap. Seriously. Listen to it. I think Ronnie just really wanted to forget about the bad and now she's a sex addict. It's totally normal.

I think the banner on the side fits. Thanks to CleverClover for making it! I waited for this chapter to post it! Lol.

But Stella was earnest about punching Ronnie in the face and the apology. And the group is on the go again! More action coming up! 

Adam's in love with Ronnie, Liam's like fuck off, Jeremy is a priest in his spare time. They're perfect. I love these characters.

Anywho,

Until next time,

- CeCe.