"I had a chat with your sister." Corey said "well it was more of an argument actually."

"What did you do?" I asked him biting my lip nervously

"I told her that she's a shit sister and you deserve better."

"I'm just a bother Corey. Don't you get that? I'm the girl that shouldn't belong anywhere. Even you caring this much is just-" I paused frowning. "why? Why do you care?" I demanded angrily

"You aren't a bother." I watched him Pull into Daniel's guest parking spot beside his red Camry. "You will never be a bother to me."

"Then why do you feel the need to get involved in my life?" I asked as he got out of the car opening my door.
Corey grabbed me by my waisted gently. He pinned me on the car and placed both hands on each side of me locking me in
"Because I care about you. Can you just allow me to care."

I nodded to him. I was so used to being shoved around that it didn't even matter to me anymore. Eventually Corey would see what a mess I am and cut me out of his life just like everyone else has.

He dropped his arms. He was still staring into my soul with those bright blue eyes.

"Why do you care so much." I asked as he knocked on the apartment door. He turned back to me.

"Because you remind me of someone."
Danny opened the door and patted Corey on his shoulder.
What did he even mean?

"Hey!" Danny said and hugged me. "How are you?"

"Can I just say alive? Is that allowed?"
He nodded.
Once we got inside I focused on the little noises. Like the door being locked. Jack mixing something in the small kitchen and of course the sound of Corey chewing on what appeared to be bread.

"Is that Penelope?!" Jack yelled and hugged me. He was a bigger dude. A big teddy bear.
But boy did this hug hurt.
Corey noticed immediately. He got up from the couch

"I made penne alla vodka." Jack said putting the bowl of noodles on the small table next to the vodka sauce.

We all ate and eventually Jack kissed Danny good night and left me and Dan at the table.
Corey got up and went outside to smoke.

"So. Talk to me." Danny said
Even in Highschool we had these talks where we would just vent together about all the shit that happened to us.

"Well. It's said and done. Ronnie is most likely going to prison. Court date is in a few weeks from now.He's in jail at the moment. Corey didn't go into detail what he did to him but I've heard he's pretty beat up."

"You're okay right? You feel safe now?" Danny wasn't worried about Ronnie. The thing with him is that it's always me he's worried about no matter what. If I killed a man. Danny would help me cover it up and make sure I was okay. Even if the other individual was innocent.

"I'll be okay. I always am."

"Listen, I made a promise. To your parents when you moved out and quit school. I promised them you'd be safe. You'd be okay. And i broke that promise. So this is me telling you now Penelope. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I let this happen. I'm sorry I didn't step in and do something."

"Nah it's okay. Look I get it. You and Jack have this life here. This beautiful apartment. With your new Toyota. It's fine. I'm the fuck up sibling. The girl that didn't do anything right."

"Penny. Stop. Stop being so negative about yourself. Remember when I came out to you in Highschool? When you tried setting me up with your friend Beth?"
I laughed. Of course I remembered this. This was a huge moment for him. I nodded and let him finish the story. He always told it better than I did.

"You were the only person... the only person on this entire planet that I could tell that too. And that's the truth. My parents found out once I brought my first boyfriend. Justin. Remember him?"

"Yeah.. I remember when I threatened him to never mess with you after he hit you." I said.
Danny got up from the dining chair and helped me up. He hugged me.

"Penelope. Now is the time you have to trust me. Corey is going to take you far away from this place. From Iowa. You have to trust that he will save you from this hell."
Danny dark brown eyes looked into mine. Suddenly all of the memories flooded back. The first day I met him. How he helped me through break ups.. how I helped him 'come out' to his family.. and how I remember those sleepovers. The late nights we would spend on our house phones. The nights I would sneak out and sleep in his arms and listen to him talk to me about whatever dude he was into. Daniel was my best friend and he would be the only thing I would be leaving in Iowa.

"I'll come back you know." I said "to see you."

"You always come back." He kissed my forehead "Your my Penny. My inseparable soulmate who I will never let go. You will always have a place here." He smiled at me and looked outside at Corey who was watching us and looked away as Danny spotted him

"On your couch of course." I mumbled

"sorry," he cleared his throat. "I figured you could pull the bed out?"

"I'm sure I'll figure it out."
I said

"You always do." He finishes hugging me and then he left me as Corey came in.

"Hey."

"Hey." I smiled at him.

"I'm sorry for making you feel pressured about every. I didn't mean to upset you. With Ronnie.. and with me bringing you here.."
he kept rambling on

"Hush." I said to him. I placed my finger on his lips. He watched me and came closer. "You talk to much Mr.Taylor."

"Ooh do I now?" Corey laughed as I tugged him to the couch.

"Penny, the couch pulls-" I hushed him again. I pushed him on the couch. I crawled on top of him.

"I don't want to pull out the couch." I smirked at him.
Corey made me forget about all of the stupid shit I've been through. He was my ticket out of Iowa.
Despite being the tattered and torn unwanted Mullens daughter.. I actually felt wanted at this moment.

"What are you thinking about?" Corey asked me. I was on top of him. I didn't know what to do. Do I make a move? This is Danny's couch.

"that this is Danny's couch." I said to him. Biting my sore lip.

"I didn't tell you but tomorrow your staying at my place so it's easier to get on the road." Corey held me by my waste as we shifted spots. He was sitting up as I was laying in his arms.

"Your place?"

"Yeah. I figured you'd be spending so much time with me anyways.. the boys will be there too. And it'll be fun." He assured me.
The boys.

"You mean everyone? Sid? Paul? Joey? Jimmy?"

"Yep them too. All of us. All 9 of us." He smirked at me.

"Ahhh this is going to be so fucking great-"Corey placed his finger over my lips and leaned down to kiss me."go to sleep my omega."
"Good night my alpha."
I fell asleep as Corey cuddled me tightly.

--
I woke up in this red tight lingerie.
I was in bed with Corey. He was shirtless only wearing a pair of tight black boxers. It was a nice view.
He climbed on the bed. And on top of me. It led to us kissing for quite awhile. His hands roamed Around my small frame and I felt his bare hands land on my skin. His fingers roamed my body. He groped me roughly. I started to cry out. "Stop." I said "stop it! That hurts"
I couldn't let this affect me. This is Corey.
Corey.
Corey.
"Corey!" I yelled as he touched me I blinked and saw Ronnie smirking.
"No no. No! You aren't real!" I yelled

"PENELOPE!" I woke up to Corey shaking me.

"Corey." I hugged him. "It was a bad dream."

"Well I'm here now." He gripped me tighter. "I'm never going to let you go."