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And please read the Author's note at the end. Thank you & enjoy. <3

               My mouth goes dry and the words I try to say, seem to be stuck in my throat. I don't know what to do. So I just stare.

He flashes me a sly smile, he knows he's caught me. He knows I'm at his mercy now. But I refuse to let him think he's won, so I compose myself. Sit up straight and put a hard expression on my face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He laughs - more like cackles - before he pushes the mugs towards me. "Do you mind getting me some more coffee, dear?"

I narrow my eyes at him. Biting back the urge to say, get your own damn coffee. I don't need to test him right now. I don't think It'd be the smart thing to do, then again.

I reach for the mug and grasp it in my hand. I stand up and walked over to the pot on the stove and pour some in.

I slowly walk back over to the table and place it down roughly in front of him, causing some hot coffee to splatter across his hand. He lets out a sound and rubs over the spot. I resist the urge to smirk. "Sorry."

"I bet you are," He mutters and takes a sip from the mug, "Most people don't like their coffee without sugar, but I do."

I only stare at him. Questioning silently how he can act so casual. Like this isn't happening. Like he hasn't just announced that he knows about Liam. But he has.

I rest my forearms on the table and convince myself to not leap across the table. To not punch that smile right off his face. I also manage to get my anger in control remarkably. Not because I want to somehow still be respectful to this ass, no way.

If I want to somehow pull this whole act off, I need to act calm. Being angry would just be a dead give away that he's caught me.

Plus, I won't give him the satisfaction knowing he's stuck a nerve. I compose myself and lean back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest and giving off the airy feeling that I don't care. That this isn't big news to me. Too bad it actually is.

"You do know what's going to happen, don't you?" He asks bemused, placing his mug back on the table.

"Nothing," I say, and he seems shocked by my answer since his eyebrows shoot up.

"What makes you think that, Mars?"

"Because I don't even know what you're talking about," I say calmly, "What about Liam Farley?"

He shakes his head at me, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Let's not play dumb here, Ronnie. I heard it all the other day."

It all clicks together quickly and mechanically, surprising even myself, the second bang of my door. That must have been him exiting my house.

I'm screwed. I'm completely screwed. How the heck can I get out of this when he heard it straight from my mouth?

Maybe he's lying. Maybe Adam just told him or something, I think dolefully. But not even as I repeat that over and over again in my head do I come to believe it.

I swallow roughly, and my once calm composure fades. But even then I try to hold it together. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, let me refresh you're memory," He gives me a smile, standing up from his chair and walked over to where I am. I stiffen once he rests a hand on my shoulder. "You said to Adam that Liam came for you. He helped you escape, didn't he?"

"No," I say, "I don't know what you're talking about." I curse silently when my voice cracks at the end of sentence. But I can't help it.

I can only imagine what he'll make me do to ensure Liam's safety. Then again, I could just tell Liam. Maybe Adam or Alpha Beckett couldn't take Liam alone, but the whole pack could.

"You do," He replies, taking his hand off my shoulder. "I'm going to tell you what's to happen now, alright?"

I refuse to reply. I stare straight ahead with my arms crossed and keep a expression of stone. When he notices I'm going to say anything anytime soon, he begins to speak,

"You're going to go through mating with Adam. You'll act like his girlfriend to the humans and you'll attend the ball coming up. Is that understood?"

"I'm not doing any of that," I hiss before I can swallow down the harsh words and refrain myself. "You can't make me."

"But I can," He insists, "You dare cross me and just imagine what would happen to Liam. Perhaps I wouldn't be able to take him down myself, but I could slip a word to Purgatory pack that Liam Farley is in the area. Sure they hate us, but if that gets around, I'm sure they won't care for us anymore."

My breaths halts in my breath and I look up at him, shaking my head. "You wouldn't."

He gives me a sly smile, one that confirms he's not even close to playing around. "I wish I was. But I'm not. Just imagine what would happen, Ronnie. They'd tear him to pieces, that's a nice thought, isn't it? And if word got around that you were his mate.. You'd be dead too. Who's life is more important, yours or his?"

Both, I think weakly. I close my eyes. They're really forcing me to be with Adam. They now I won't refuse because of something happens to Liam, it effects me just as well. It's that mate insists that urges me to protect him. To go with the flow even if it means promising myself to another man.

"And you'd also hate for something to happen to your friend, Anna, wouldn't you?"

I nearly cry out at that threat, or well, promise. They would hurt Anna? I don't doubt it. Anna. Poor Anna. She wouldn't even get the chance to protect herself, she'd be killed instantly. "Leave her out of this." I croak, "She's not even involved with any of this. She's just a human."

"Maybe," He says, pursing his lips. "But accidents can happen, right?"

I open my eyes, my eyebrows furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"I'm just saying she could get in a.. well, accident of sorts. Something bad could happen to her, Ronnie."

"But it wouldn't be an accident," My voice suddenly becomes high pitched, and maybe it's because just the thought of Anna getting hurt makes me panic.

I know when he says it'll be an 'accident' he doesn't mean that. It means he'll make it appear like one. He's practically saying he can kill her and get away with it.

"That's not the point. She could hurt, do you get that?" He asks, gritting his teeth.

I glower at him. I don't care if he's the Alpha. Or if he's freaking Jesus, he's crossing the line. Threatening Anna, threatening Liam, and threatening me.

Again, I rapidly shake my head and shoot up from my chair. I put as much distance as I can between us. I'm afraid if I stay any closer, I'd end up choking up. Though, that's not such a repulsive thought. "Who do you think you are? You have no right to blackmail me into mating with your son! You're pathetic excuse for a life form!"

"I'd lower your tone if I were you." He says calmly, though his eyes burn with anger. "Remember your place. And I think I do. I run this pack and you listen to what I say."

"You're supposed to be running a pack. Not our lives. And certainly not who I decide to be with!"

"Do not raise your tone, Ronnie," He snaps this time, glaring at me. "I suggest you keep in your place or I will not hesitate to have Liam Farley killed! Do. Not. Test. Me."

I fall silent. Glowering at him as imagines of grabbing the back of his head and slamming into repeatedly into the table appears in my mind. I don't even push it away. I welcome it.

I ball my fist at my side, so much that I dig my nails into flesh hard. I don't even wince when I draw blood. I'm too enraged to care. "You're a monster."

"I'm flattered you think so," He drawls sarcastically, "I'd love to say for another hour or so and chat, but I have to get going. Think about what I said Ronnie. And don't do anything rash, yes?"

I don't say anything. Instead I stare him down, hoping he gets the message to leave before I leap over the table and attack.

Lucky for me, he leaves without another word. Nor glance. And for that I'm glad, because I don't think I could take another moment of his taunting smile.

Or the glint in his eyes. I feel sick to my stomach, worse than before. All I can think is how Adam and him look exactly alike. Does Adam know that his father has just threatened not only my life, but Liam and Anna's?

Surely he's heard of his father's plans. Surely he's agreed.

How could he? Would Adam even do that? I don't know. I didn't even know who the hell Adam was anymore. Nor what he was capable of.

Was he as malicious as his father? Would he do anything to his way?

The answer to all those questions are - I don't know. And that seems to be my answers to everything that's been happening.

A week. It's been a week and everything different. Everything's completely screwed up.

And I can only imagine where It'll lead to in the next month. Two months till Adam turns eighteen. Two months till I'm forced to be with a man I don't even like, nor will I ever be able to love.

I shake my head, telling myself I need to stop thinking about. But I can't. His words repeat over and over in my head.

I take a seat and fold my hands over my head. I'm so frustrated. So angry. And so desperate for my life to be semi normal again.

But I know it never will be again. And that's what causes my anger to deflate and turn into sorrow.

Sluggishly, I take a shower, get dressed and bolt my windows shut to ensure Liam won't make an appearance. Though I don't a closed window would stop him.

I crawl and get comfortable under my comforter. I tug the sheets till they're pushed under my chin and stare into the dark room, trying to force myself to sleep.

Once I do, all I have is horrid nightmares. Mostly of Liam's death. And Alpha Beckett's never ending cackle playing over and over like a broken record.

I woke up many times in the middle of the night, mostly screaming Liam's name. Each time I remind myself that Liam is okay. That's he alive. And I intended to keep it that way.

I promise myself to keep him safe and stick to plan. But it's not only because of Liam that I agree to any of it - It's because of Anna as well. If anything happened to her, I don't know what I'd do. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Knowing I had a chance to save her, but was selfish and ended up getting her killed.

It goes beyond not be able to sleep. I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

Anna didn't ask to be involved in my problems. I wouldn't make her pay the price. Even if he meant mating with Adam.

I'd go along with it. I'd do it because I'd be protecting both of them.

Somehow, I manage to go back to sleep and get up the next morning. I greet Anna like normally. Make it seem like nothing's wrong.

As for Liam, I avoid contact with him. And that's how it continue's till Thursday.

I keep to my word and make it appear like I'm happily Adam's girlfriend. I sit by him in lunch, though I don't talk. The only thing I do is push around my food and stare glumly at my old table.

Adam at least allows Anna to sit with us, so it's not all that bad. I guess.

The only thing I don't go along with his Adam putting his arm around me or such. Obviously because I don't want to be touched by him nor do I like the feel of it.

I'm not even sure if I had spoken a word to him the whole week really besides, "Yeah" and "No"

I haven't dared to bring up the subject of how his father threatened me. And that just increases the tension between us.

It's weird. How everyone goes from not paying attention to me to now suddenly wanting to be my friend. Probably because I'm now the schools IT boy's girlfriend.

Yeah, it didn't take long for that to spread like a wild fire. I can't even bare to look at Liam. When we go to work on the project, I don't say much. I only discuss the back drops. Though he insists on talking to me.

He throws numerous questions at me, but I deflect them all and focus on the main topic. I don't even let him stand close to me in fear Alpha Beckett will catch his scent and kill him.

When I get to school Thursday morning, I'm bombarded with guys and girls trying to befriend me. I stare at them all in disgust the whole time.

"I heard you're going to Nick Morrison's party, we could totes car pull," One girls says, clinging desperately to my arm.

I shrug her off and pull my bag closer to me, "Not interested. Thanks." I tell her harshly and quicken my pace, pushing my away out of the cluster of people that circles around me.

Of course, I'm not able to catch a breather.

Liam rushes to my side once I'm at my locker. "They're annoying, aren't they?"

"No, really?" I retort, stuffing my books in my locker.

"Yeah, you know that wouldn't happen if you broke up with him."

If only you knew I was doing this to keep you safe, asshole, I think and regret it slightly when I think of the mate connection. He couldn't hear that right?

I glance at him for the first time in days and search his features for any indications that he's heard me. All he does is watch me with his green eyes, pleading with me silently to talk to him.

I resist. And go to turn and walk away when he catches my forearm. I suck in a breath once I feel tingles travel up my arm. "Talk to me, Ronnie. Please."

I stay quiet and direct my eyes on the tile. I don't even tug my arm out of grasp. I'm too weak emotionally to tear away from the first contact I've felt from him in days.

Too soon, he releases my arm. But the disconnection between us is short lived when I feel him touch my cheek. He guides me to look at him.

I look up at him, trying to ignore the proximity of our bodies. I fail miserably when I feel the heat reflecting off of him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I manage to say. "What makes you think that?"

"The fact you haven't spoken a word to me the whole week. Not even a insult," He says, frowning.

"Have you ever thought it's because I don't want to speak with you?"

The words effect him slightly. I can see his eyes glaze over in disbelief of my words before he shakes his head. "I don't believe that for a damn second. What the hell is going on, Ronnie?"

"Nothing that concerns you." I say and reluctantly step back away from him. "It's true what I said earlier Liam. I don't wish to talk with you."

The words are painful to say. But I do it. He gets the point when Adam appears and raps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side while glaring at Liam. "Something wrong here?"

I resist shrugging Adam's arm off of me, hoping that Liam get's the message and backs off. "No, nothing. We should get to class, yeah?" I mumble the last part.

Adam nods stiffly replying with a brief, "Yeah." He tugs me away from Liam and leads me down the hallway.

I can sense Liam's gaze on my back the whole time. I glance over my shoulder to see him staring after the both of us with a burning look in his eyes.

I'm not giving up on you Ronnie. Never.

I shake my head softly at him and turn back to face forward. This is for the best.. right?

The drive home from school is awkward. Just like it has been this whole week. None of us bother to speak. And for that I'm grateful, or else I'm pretty sure I'd snap.

I already was on the verge of doing so.

This whole BS act was getting to me and it hasn't even been a week. I feel like screaming at everyone that I'm not Adam's girlfriend.

I actually did today earlier in class.

It just made people a lot more in school confused about our status. You know what our status really is? Non existent. And that's how I'd like to keep it.

Once we pull up to my house, I jump out, ready to run inside when Adam's voice stops me. "If we're going to be doing this, we should at least get along, don't you think?"

I pause. And look over at him to see him getting out of his car. "Why would I want to get along with someone who's forcing me to be with him?"

He flinches. Obviously because of my words. But I don't even care. Beckett said I had to act like his mate and be nice to him public. He didn't say after closed doors that I had to be. I didn't like Adam one freaking bit, and I wasn't about to start trying to.

"Ron, I'm sorry about.. that, but we didn't think we could get you to agree any other way. So we had to be forceful, I guess. But it's for your best interest."

I scuff, "My best interest? Forcing me to be your mate is for my best interest?"

"It's better then being with Liam. He's a walking target. If you were to be with him, that would make you one too."

"Who says I want to be with anyone? When did your stupid pack get to make my decisions?"

"Our pack," He corrects, "This is for the best. And I know that maybe one day you'll-"

I cut him off immediately, knowing what he's going to say. "That I'll what? Come to want to be your want? Or even love you? You're stupid, Adam." I spat, no longer willing to hold back my crude words. "I could never love the son of a monster."

He winces at my choice of words. "Please, Ronnie-"

Again, I rush to speak. "Don't even go there, Adam. Again, I could never love you like the way your pack wants me to. The way they're trying to force me to. You look exactly like him, I could never.." I trail off, shaking my head. "You'll never get it."

"I look exactly like him? Like my father?"

"It doesn't matter." I say, and open the door to my house. "None of it matters." I slam the door shut with that, locking it shut.

I'm pleased when he walks off and makes no further attempt to talk to me. I collapse onto my bed. I don't think I'll be able to go through with this.

I can't even bare to look at Adam without feeling like I'm looking at his father. It's too creepy. Everything he does reminds me of him. How could I love someone who reminds me of the person I hate most in this world?

Even if he didn't, I never would love Adam. Nor even like.

It just leads me to think I need to get out of this. I need to. Run away and never turn back. But I know I can't. Because they'd probably kill Anna. And most importantly Liam.

They'd probably hunt me down too just to kill me or whatever. The only reason Liam is alive right now is because they need to use him to get me to be with Adam.

My mind wanders to other thoughts and I begin to wonder if Liam will be at the party.

The party. I groan when I think of how I'll have to go. Everything is just total shit in my life right now.

I do the only thing I can do, I paint. And let it take my never ending haunting thoughts out of my head. I simply focus on what's in front of me. Not what's around me.

But how long can I do that?

-----------

Short, I know. But this is what I can fit. Plus, I'm in no rush to really get too far ahead in the story. I'm taking my time with this one. (:

This is not my favorite chapter at all. Weirdly, Adam irks me too. xD I just feel so dirty when I write about him and Ronnie together. But yeeeeah.

I hope you enjoyed, nonetheless. Do you really think she'll be able to deal with him and stick to the plan? I freaking doubt it. Ronnie's too hot headed to contain her emotions and stuff. :P

Haha, anywho, question time!

We all know The Hunger Games movie is coming out soon, (Gah, who else is so excited to see it?!) So I thought I'd just have a fun little question for all you THG lovers to answer. And here it is:

If you could be any character from THG, who would you be?

And I decided I'd answer too for the hell of it. :P

My answer - I'd want to be, besides Katniss, (Who the hell doesn't want to be her?) Clove. Or Johanna from Catching Fire and Mocking Jay.

Clove because, HELLO! She can throw freaking knives. and I just love her character. She's so.. malicious. Is it wrong that I enjoy that? That the whole time I read THG I was encouraging her to kill peeps? xD I think so.

And of course, Johanna 'cause she's just as blood thirsty. But misunderstood. Just like Clove. I feel like they have such stories to tell. And I think they both just want to be loved as well. They're amazing, period.

I cried a little when Clove died because I liked her so much. :'( Oh well. Lol, this is one long rant.

Alrighty, before this gets any longer, make sure to Vote, comment, and fan. Don't be shy to comment on what you think. Answer the question too if you like. I'm super interested to read who you would want to be and why. :D

OH!

One last thing, would you guys be interested in reading from someone else's POV next chapter? Perhaps Liam? Or Adam. Mostly Liam. xD Though I don't want to give away anything too big from him. It's not a for sure thing, but make sure to also add if you'd like for me to do that or whatever.

Until next time. <3

- CeCe.