Two days had passed since Anna's accident. And there still hasn't been one word spoken about it.

For all I knew, Anna could be dead. Her funeral could be being planned right now and I wouldn't know it. Or even worse, she could already be six feet under. Or that other thing they do to people when they die... cremation?

The mere thought of Anna's body being burned makes my stomach twist, forming a tight knot that I know isn't going anywhere anytime soon. 

Then again, the mere thought of Anna dying makes me feel sick. And the thought that I could have been the cause of her death makes me feel even worserer. Though I'm sure that's not a word, at the moment, I don't care.

For the past two days, the whole town has been quiet. Even the pack. Surprisingly, Adam hadn't come to bother me at all. Nor Alpha Beckett. And for that, I was grateful. 

I don't think I could handle looking into the eyes of Anna's killers so soon. Or well, her supposed killers.

I had found out minutes after the scene what had truly happened. Some girl who had witnessed  the horrific tragedy came babbling to me about it, claiming how a car had come crashing through the parking lot and had hit Anna. 

Immediately after hearing this, one thing rang in my mind. Alpha Beckett.

The name of the monster who had ruined my life kept on ringing in my head the whole way home when my dad picked me up from school.

I had tried convincing him to take me to the hospital. I had begged and pleaded and did about everything I could to somehow take me. But he argued that whatever was happening with Anna was between her and her parents. That we would just have to wait to find out what the verdict was.

But I couldn't wait to find. I just couldn't. So the next day, I went banging on Anna's door. Though no one answered and I quickly realized it was stupid of me to do so, seeing as Anna's parents or really Anna herself wouldn't be home.

For some reason, I didn't leave the house immediately. I had sat on their porch practically all day, praying that Anna's parents would return home. To at least maybe catch up on some sleep or something, as silly as it sounded. But it never happened. And it was stupid of me to think they'd really come home to catch up on some sleep when their daughter was on the brink of death. 

I wanted to go to the hospital. But I knew I couldn't. The nearest hospital was two hours away from our small town and I couldn't reach it without crossing into Purgatory territory. And I couldn't risk attracting their attention and ultimately drawing them to Anna nor her family. So I had to stay put, for the sake that they wouldn't discover my other weakness beside's Liam. 

Then again, perhaps it wasn't Alpha Beckett who had killed Anna. It could have been the Purgatory for all I know. Maybe they were just doing what Alpha Beckett was doing. Targeting the people closest to me just to strike me down. But how would they know about Anna? They couldn't. They didn't know anything about me besides the fact that I was Liam's mate.

But maybe - just like the night of the ball - Alpha Beckett could have given them a lead. A lead to Anna so he wouldn't have to get his hands dirty and actually kill her. Most likely that was the case. Either way, I knew I'd find out sooner or later, if I wanted to or not.

That first night of not knowing what happened to Anna, I had drove myself insane with the thoughts that were slowly eating away at me. 

And that's why, on the the second night, after gaining up the courage, right after my dad had fallen asleep, I had shifted and dashed off as far as I could before I entered the main town. From there, at twelve AM in the morning, I caught a bus to the hospital. 

The only thing I did for  two hours was watch as people got on and off the bus. With the occasional hobo who would look my way and give me the stink eye. It caused me to sink lower into the uncomfortable plastic chair that made my butt go numb after only being on the bus for thirty minutes.

I was almost relieved when I realized I had reached my stop, till I remembered the reason why I was even coming here in the first place. 

Nonetheless, I jumped out of the bus in a hurry and walked a few minutes or so when I finally saw a lit up building with the word's 'Portland Hosipital' glowing in bright red.

Hurriedly, I made my way to the entrance, passing people in wheel chairs and another lady who I was positively sure was about to give birth. After that, I didn't pay much attention to the atmosphere around me, nor the fact that I despised hospitals. I was too caught up in finally getting to see Anna that I didn't care.

I made my way to the front desk where a elderly woman sat, typing away and staring at the computer screen. I had to clear my throat just to get her attention.

"May I help you?" She asks rudely and normally I would have taken offense to the tone of voice she was using with me, but then I thought about how I would feel working at a hospital in the dead of night. So I decided to let it slide.

"Yes," I answer slowly, "I'm, uh, looking for Annabelle Steel. Could you tell me what room she's in?"

She raises a brow at me, "Are you family?"

I nod jerkily. "Yeah. I'm her sister."

The lady purses her lips at me, obviously knowing I'm lying but nonetheless she turns away from me and I watch as she types Anna's full name into the computer. She turns the computer away from my sight right when she clicks enter. And immediately, I watch as her mouth twists into a frown as she anazlyes the screen.

"What? What is it?" I ask, leaning over the counter to somehow get a glimpse at the computer screen, but she exits out of the tab quickly.

"It seems there's a little error with the computer. I'll call the doctor down, no worries. Just take a seat and he'll come get you."

"What do you mean an error with the computer? Look-" I begin to say, but the woman cuts me off.

"Please, miss, just take a seat. I assure you the doctor will come to get you and take you to see your... sister." She says and then gestures to the waiting room chairs.

I open my mouth to object, but quickly decide against it. I am not going to start a fight with this chick just to get kicked out.

So I take a seat and tap my foot against the marble white floors while I fiddle with my hands and keep an eye out for this doctor dude or whatever.

It isn't long after that I see a familiar face appear before my sight.

It's Mrs. S and Mr. S, walking along side a man with shaggy blonde hair and pale blue eyes who I automatically assume is the doctor by the  white lab coat he's sporting.

And by the look on Mrs. S' face, I can tell something is terribly wrong. Her once neatly combed blonde locks are a mess and her eyes are blood shot with dried tears staining her cheeks. Mr. S is no better.

Instead of running to them like I want to, I stay in my seat and watch as they slowly approach me. I wait till they stop in front of me before standing up and drawing in a shaky breath.

I stare into Mrs. S' blurry green eyes. I search her face for some sign that Anna is okay. That she's still alive and that she's going to make it through this. That Anna's gonna be okay. That Anna will return to school in only a matter of months and that we can be friends again. That we can somehow make up and go back to the way we used to be. But I find nothing but sorrow etched on her features. And it causes my heart to sink into my stomach.

"Is she dead?" I question softly. I know the answer to my question, but I can't help it. I can't help but ask and still grasp onto the ounce of hope I still have left.

A lump forms in my throat as I watch a rogue tear fall from her eyes. And that's it. That's all I need to know.

I turn away, feeling the tears sting my eyes. I hear Mr. S call my name, but I don't look back. I can't. How can I possibly look them in the eye? How can I face them when I know I'm the cause of this? How can I lie to them and tell them it was just some unfortunate accident? Because that's thing. It wasn't some accident. It was Alpha Beckett.

As I sit on the bus, I cry silently. I bite onto the sleeve of my knit sweater to contain the sobs that claw their way up my throat. 

I dig my nails into my thigh and I'm pretty sure I've drawn blood, but I don't care. I remain still and let the warm tear trail down my face. I don't bother to wipe them away. I'm too shocked. 

Because how can this be possible? How can my best friend be dead?

Just months ago we were fine. Everything was normal and Anna was still breathing. It wasn't until Adam declared that I was going to be his mate that thing's drastically changed for me.

I feel like an idiot. I feel stupid and angry at myself for even being mad at Anna in the first place. Because she honestly didn't deserve it. She was right when she said I was a liar. Or well, when she implied I was a liar. Because I was. Because I am.

I lied to her about everything. About me, about my family, about my past. And I feel like a major bitch for doing that. Maybe if I would have told her about what's going on with Adam, I coulda possibly saved her. And I know that sounds stupid. And it's because I am stupid.

I'm a stupid and weak little girl for letting Alpha Beckett walk all over me. I'm stupid for letting him kill my best friend and ultimately tearing me apart.

And then, along with the tears and evident sadness, my blood boils. And all I can imagine in my head is pounding Alpha Beckett's face in. I can feel my body shake with anger and it gets so bad that once the bus door opens, I leap out.

Once I reach the woods, I shift and run. I run all the way back to my pack territory, where I'm not surprised to find all the houses lights flickered on and my dad standing outside, along with every other pack member. Of course, including Alpha Beckett and Adam.

I shift back to human form once I near and draw their attention. My dad calls my name and demands to know where I have been for the last fours hours. But I don't reply. I simply stare at Alpha Beckett. And he does the same, examining me with a cold and calculating gaze. I can tell he thinks he's so superior. So strong. Well, I'm about to prove him wrong.

"Ronnie, we thought something happened to you. Where were you?" A familiar and concerned voice asks. I let my eyes trail off in the direction of the voice to find Adam looking at me with worry filled eyes. I clench my fist, feeling my nails dig into the palm of my hands. I ignore the pinch of pain and curl my lip up in disgust at Adam. At the monster his father is slowly creating.

He tries to act innocent and good, just like Alpha Beckett does, but it's all a lie. He knows what's wrong. He's knows where I've been. He know's what's happened. He know's that Anna's dead and that his father caused it and still, he has the guts to stand before me and act like he cares about what happens to me. 

"Don't give me that whole innocent act, Adam," I spit. "I'm done with playing your games and especially your father's games. I'm done with everything!"

My father steps forward, grasping my arm. "Ron, stop. Let's just go inside and-"

I cut him off when I wrench my arm from his grip. "No! I'm done pretending I'm fine when I'm not! You may not want to stand up to Alpha Beckett, but I am!" I turn to Alpha Beckett, meeting his eyes and before I can help myself, the tears fall and I screech. "Why me? Why did you pick to torture me? What did I ever do to you to cause you to make my life a living hell?"

Alpha Beckett keeps a calm facade, unfazed by my screeching. "I don't know what you're talking about, dear."

I laugh dryly, "Oh please. You know what I'm talking about, you basterd."

"Ronnie!" My father hisses sharply, reaching to grab me but I step back.

"Don't you realize what they've done? Are you blind? Or are you just really that stupid?" I hiss at my father. And for a minute, I feel guilty when a look of hurt flashes across his face, but that feeling quickly disappears, only to be replaced with rage. "He killed Anna. He killed Anna probably just like how he killed mom!" I see my father's face drain of color at the mere mention of mom, and I feel even more completely evil when I utter. "You remember who she is, don't you? Or has your little girlfriend made you forget about her? Have you completely forgotten about the night she was killed? The way she screamed your name but you weren't there to save her. I bet you feel awful."

My father's fact twists into pain and he soon steps back. He doesn't argue back at all. What a coward. 

"You're a fool, Ronnie," Alpha Beckett comments, drawing my attention back to him. "Just like your mother. She didn't listen either and look at that, she got herself killed."

"More like you got her killed." I hiss, "What's the real reason you want me so badly to mate with Adam? Huh?"

Alpha Beckett remains silent for a minute or two. Then he says, "if you know what's best for you, you'll turn and walk to your house and I'll be nice enough to pretend like this never happened."

"No way. I'm done with that. I'm done with going along with what you say. I'm no longer your puppet. I reject Adam's offer to become his mate and I officially state that I'm leaving the pack, once and for all."

"Ronnie, dear, you are not thinking clearly." He steps forward, close enough that I can see the ominous flicker in his eyes. "You wouldn't want Liam to get hurt, would you?"

"Of course not," I answer lowly. "And that's why I'm leaving. Because I'm going to take you down."

"Ron, stop, don't do this." Adam pleads from afar. "I never wanted this to happen. I swear. I never wanted Anna to die."

"If you didn't want her to die, then you would have stopped this along time ago." My voice cracks at the end and my vision blurs due to the tear that cloud my eyes. My eyes flicker to Alpha Beckett. "I'm gonna enjoy killing you in the future."

"I hope you know that you're declaring war against me and my pack." He replies. I nod slowly.

"I know," I scan my eyes over the faces of familiar people I've grown up with. The people I use to talk to everyday. But weirdly, they all feel like strangers to me. And I guess it's because I truly don't who they are anymore. And for some reason, it kills me to know that I might possibly have to kill these people who I formerly use to call my pack mates. Then again, they disowned me after my mother's death. If they cared, they would have stickin' up for me when I needed them most. Now there's no going back. This is war. "I hope you're ready when I come for you."

And with that, I turn on my heel. This time, I'm walking away for good. No looking back. No second chances. No nothing. 

They let me go and I know it's because Beckett doesn't see me as a threat. But he should. Because when I come back, I won't be alone.

I'm leaving behind everything I've ever known. My home. My friends. Adam. Everyone and everything. 

And for some odd reason, there is no ounce of sadness left in me. Only determination. 

-----------

Anna died. Sorry, it had to happen. It had to be that push for Ronnie to say enough is enough. And look at her, being all rebel-ish and stuff.

Now, Ronnie is a rogue. And the story has taken the turn I've finally wanted it to. These last chapters of the story are going to be exciting. It's even going to be more exciting when the sequel begins. Ehh! :D

Until next time, which hopefully very soon, 

- CeCe.