The next morning, I was woken by my phone vibrating beneath my side. I groaned, pressing my face into North's bare chest, reluctant to find out who was trying to contact me so early in the morning. I kissed his shoulder then the hickey I had left on his chest, and stood, grabbing my phone and exiting the trailer. I closed the door behind me quietly, shivering in the morning breeze, and answered the phone, sulking slightly.

"What?" I snapped into the phone, leaning against the side of the trailer, eager to get back to bed and curl up against North then to wake up in a few hours for chocolate chip pancakes.

"You need to come home," Marie's words came out in a rush, shaky and full of fear. I straightened up, fear of my own flooding through me. "I don't know where you are, and I know that wherever you are is probably safer than here, but just come home for a few hours. I'll make sure Knox and Zain here but Lauren freaked out and it was bad and she took it out on Micah and Sang I'm scared. Please please please come home. I'll bring you right back to your boys as soon as you talk Lauren down, but we need you."

"Okay okay," I breathed out, cutting her off. My heart hammered against my chest afraid to learn what my mom had done to Micah. "I'll be there soon. I just need to get dressed and steal one of North's cars and then I'll be there. Uh, leave. You and Micah. You need to leave. It's better if I handle her on my own."

"Okay," Marie said and she paused before continuing. "Be careful, okay? Knox is going to be there within the next hour, but you never know how she's going to react. Please, be careful. I don't want you to get hurt."

I took a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut to keep from crying. "Don't worry about me, Marie. Just get you and Micah out of there. I'm going to kill her if she lays a finger on you two again."

"I'm going to fuck her if she hurts you," Marie grumbled then sighed. "I love you, baby sis. Come to Knox's apartment when you're done, okay?"

"Okay," I told her, though I wasn't sure I would actually end up going there after speaking with Lauren. It was more likely I would flee to Kota or Nathan's. "I'll see you soon."

I hung up then returned to the trailer. North was still fast asleep, and I tilted my head, taking in how peaceful he looked when there was nothing to worry him. I crouched down, pushing hair away from his face and ducking down to peck his lips gently. I made a quiet promise to be back for chocolate chip pancakes with no bruises, though I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep it.

I stood up and ran my hands over the black shirt I was wearing. It hung down to mid-thigh, far too big on me, though it fit just right on North. I sighed, reluctant to take it off, so I yanked on my pants from the day before and pulled on one of his sweatshirts. I left a note for him, letting him know that I hadn't just slept with him then abandoned him, but I had an emergency that I needed to borrow his Jeep for.

It hurt my heart to think that he might wake up before I returned and he might think that I had left him without saying goodbye. He needed his sleep, though, and I needed to get to Lauren before she did anymore damage.

The drive to the house gave me the right around of time to get angry and prepare to see Lauren again. I tried my best to be as careful as I could with North's Jeep, knowing how upset he would be if I damaged it, but I was unable to contain my fury much longer as I skidded into the driveway, parking rather precariously. The only through circling through my brain in the moment was that she had hurt my brother, and she was going to pay for it.

I slammed as the door I came in, searching the main floor for her, my irritation and anger growing the more I searched for her. It would be a miracle if I didn't beat the shit out of her the moment I found her. I stormed up the stairs, whirling in a circle, only to freeze as I found her standing in the doorway of my bedroom.

"Lauren," I hissed out, grabbing her by the arm and shoving her into the wall.

I was shocked by the sight I was greeted with. The usually perfect put together Lauren Sorenson, was absolutely drunk and ruffled. Her eyes were bloodshot and red, her blonde hair that was typically pulled away from her face in tangles and falling around her face, a red mark on her cheek perhaps from a hit a Marie may have landed. Lauren grinned, her breath stinking of alcohol as she leaned close.

"My dear sweet daughter," she crooned, gripping my arms so tight that it stung. "Finally returning home from her slutty adventures. Coming home to disgrace her family." Her eyes fell down to the shirt I was wearing and her face screwed up in disgust and rage. "A boy's shirt? You dare come home in a boy's shirt! What kind of slut are you!"

I took a step back to escape the screechy note that her voice was taking on. She was genuinely terrifying me, it was no wonder why Marie had called me in such a panic. Lauren was finally having a mental break, and it was showing. I held my hands out, as if trying to calm a spooked animal.

"Mom," I forced out, the word like venom on my tongue. It burned and felt like such a lie to call her that. "Calm down. Why don't we get you to bed and you get some rest, okay? We can talk about this later when you've gotten some sleep."

"Don't fucking call me that, you bratty whore!" she screamed, shoving me. I stumbled backwards some, tripping over my own feet, but managing to regain my balance and stand tall before her. "You're a disgrace to the family, I don't know why we keep you! I should have aborted you when I had the chance! The only good children are Zain and Knox!"

"Zain was an alcoholic just like you, you delusional bitch!" I shouted, my hands balling up into fists. "You beat the shit out of me for how long? You fucking hit my brother last night according to Marie! The only disgrace to this family is you! You're the slut, you're the disgrace, and if anyone should be upset, it should be your kids that you treat like toys and trophies!"

My words must have set her off because she tackled me, screeching loudly. I hissed in pain was we collided with the hard floor, my head that was still healing slamming against the floor. Her nails raked against my cheek and I cried out, slamming the heal of my hand into her nose. She yelped and jerked her head back. I grinned and gripped her hair tightly, yanking her head away from me then shoving her off.

As soon as she was no longer on top of me, I got onto my hands and knees, wiping the blood off my face and trying to catch my breath. I was so distracted from the pain that was radiating from my face, that I hadn't noticed she had stood up. My head was ducked down, hair in front of my face, and all I saw was a blur out of the corner of my eye before a foot was connecting with my side.

I cried out before collapsed to the ground, gripping my side, gasping for air. I looked up at her, pleading with my eyes for her to stop and understand that I was her child. I saw no love, no sympathy in her eyes and I let out a small whimper, aware that there was no stopping her.

"Please," I whispered, trying one last time, but she only grinned a sickeningly cruel grin that brought knots in my stomach.

"I will not have a slut for a daughter," she hissed, then brought her foot to my side and pushed as hard as she could.

A scream tore from my throat as I tumbled down our stairs. The edges of the steps slammed into my side and my head repeatedly, bringing in an immeasurable amount of pain. I landed in a heap at the bottom of the steps, curling up into a ball, crying into my hands. The amount of pain I was in was nothing compared to the knowledge that I had a mother who would do this to me.

I'd barely had time to sit up and try to pull myself to my feet, before Lauren was grabbing me by my hair. I hollered kicking my legs and tearing at her arms with my nails, trying to get her to release me. She dragged me across the floor, nearly ripping my hair out of scalp. It was easier to stop struggling after awhile, so I allowed her to drag me.

She stopped in front of our coat closet and I looked at her wearily, wiping away blood away from my lip where it had split open on the stairs. I glared, waiting for what torture she was going to put me through.

"Get in the closet and take off that boy's shirt," she spat at me, yanking open the door and grabbing my arm and shoving me until I sprawled out on the ground of the closet.

I sat up on my knees, giving her the meanest look I could muster. "No, Lauren. I will sit in this closet. I will take your shit. But I won't take off the shirt. Because this boy loves me, and cares for me, unlike you. So no! And fuck off!"

Lauren's face contorted with anger again and she spit on me before leaning down and feeling me up until she found my phone. When she found the phone, she threw it at the wall, and my heart sank. It would have been my only way to get help.

"Sit here and think about what you've done," she told me, standing in the doorway, looking down at me.

I smiled wide, the action hurting but worth it to see the anger it brought her. "Gladly, bitch."

She slammed the door shut and in the darkness, all my bravado left me. In the darkness, with no one but myself and my fears, I allowed myself to cry. I wrapped North's sweatshirt around me tight, curling up on my side, breathing in his scent deeply to calm myself. I quietly reassured myself that Knox would be there soon, and he would save me.

At some point, I drifted off, much too tired from waking up early and taking a beating. I was woken by the sound of the door handle jiggling. I sat up fast, my breath quickening, wondering if it was Lauren coming back to teach me another lesson. I let out a sob of relief at the sight of my older brother, his eyes expressing exasperation and fury.

"Sang," he whispered, kneeling before me, cupping my face to examine the injuries on it. "Sang, what did she do to you? What did she do?"

Through my hysterics, I informed him of all that had happened, and he held me tightly the entire time. By the time I was finished, I could barely breathe from how hard I was sobbing. I clung to him, afraid that if I let go I would have to face her again. He rubbed my back, burying his face in my hair.

"Never again, Sang," he whispered, the words a promise. He pulled away, his green eyes serious as he looked at me. "The guys and I arranged something when everything began to fall apart. I hoped I wouldn't have to put this plan in action, but with the last couple of weeks, it's necessary. Go pack your things, okay, Sang? Zain and Axel will be here to pick you up in an hour."

"Knox?" I questioned, confused. "Knox? What's happening?"

"You're leaving, sweetheart," he sighed. "You're leaving and you're going to stay elsewhere for your safety, okay? You're not safe here anymore..."

"The boys," I protested weakly, feeling tired and achey still. I barely had the energy to talk to Knox, let alone argue with him.

He squeezed my shoulders softly, reassuringly. "Write them a letter and I'll make sure someone get's it to them. For now, you have to leave before Lauren get's back, understand?"

I nodded, though I wasn't exactly sure I did. I was leaving. I was leaving the place I had grown up in, because I was in danger. More importantly, I was leaving my boys and the only thing I could do was leave them a letter as an explaination.

The pain in my heart beat out any other pain I should be feeling.

a/n: Holy shit guys... This was the last chapter. After this all you have left is the epilogue. Since the epilogue is a doozy, I'll leave the hearfelt authors note here.

I started this in July. I wasn't even sure I was going to post it, but with the gentle guidance of my sister and encouragement from her, I posted it. It's not all thanks to her though. There's thanks to everyone who stood by me and encouraged me throughout this wild journey. I'm going to name some of the more prevalent people really fast and thank them.

Hollie, thank you for being my number one supporter oh god. Some times I wouldn't want to continue this but your relentless love towards it kept me going.

Jessica, best beta in the world and even better friend. You supported me just as much and constantly reminded me of how good my writing is.

Kia, thank you for the cover and the constant ear to lend when I had an idea to run past you. Your comments on this story bring me joy, and it's crazy to think that this story brought us our friendship.

Belle, sweetheart, oh my god I love you. Thank you for sweet reminders to update and just letting me know I made you smile because of my update.

Lastly, thank you to every single person who has read this crazy book, commented, and voted. I wouldn't have been able to get through this without you. For one of the last times for this book, with tears in my eyes:

xoxo,

ry.