Very important author's note at the bottom

"Who just says that when it's not even true?" I huffed next to Sara.  She frowned and continued to brush my hair. She has her own apartment now, along with Jax and I. We get to stay together, which I'm over the moon about.

It's in a secluded part of town, a mile away from the pack house and all the other houses. It's a small townhouse with 4 rooms and two bathrooms. Jax and Sara were so excited to learn we were getting out of that hellhole, as was I. 

I wasn't free, but I was nearly halfway there. 

Last week Baine tried to tell me I was adopted. What an asshole. He knew nothing. Did he thewink that telling me I was adopted it'd lessen the pain of having my parents ripped away from me? No! Who even says something like that out of the blue? He does.

"He's a monster Elle. Don't forget that."

"Trust me, there's no forgetting. I wish there was. I wish I could forget everything."

"I know."

"I guess a part of me wants an answer. You know, why they did this. I hate them so much, but how could they just . . ." I had to trail off as the memory of blood flying in the air played in my mind like a movie.

I heard Sara sigh behind me as she continued to brush my hair.  I realized, I hadn't even had a chance to ask her how she'd been doing. Right now, Jax had gone out to the store to get the house some groceries. I assume he has money left over from what became of our pack.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, keeping my back to her. The brush stopped short at the end of my hair for a moment before she continued on.

"Of course not."

"I'm sorry. Dumb question."

"It's okay. I just don't know what to do anymore. I have my mate still, I'm so lucky. I can't live without Jax, and that realization hit me hard when we were separated that week at the elderly home. I thought I was going to die."

Sarah's POV : Flashback

"I don't understand, what are you saying?" I asked, tears building in the corners of my eyes. My grandma sighed and wrapped her hands around my shoulders like she used to do when I was in trouble. But this time, this time was different.

"You have a job now. You have to preserve this pack's bloodline. Within hours, we will be under attack by Red Claw pack."

"R-Red Claw? What do they want with us?"

I'd heard their name. Who hadn't? They were the strongest pack in the US, aside from a few others. They were merciless, brutal and just plain scary.  They were full of strength, what with their overwhelming numbers and new technology that our small pack couldn't get our hands on.

"I'm still not following. Please explain to me what's happening!" I was growing desperate now. My eyes constantly flickered to the clock above the stove. 

"Honey, I'm not supposed to tell you. I'm under strict instructions from the Alpha and Luna along with your parents. But," She swiped a loose lock of hair back into her bun before staring over her shoulder at the clock. "There's something you need to know."

"What? What is it?"

"It's about Elle and Jax. They're-"

"You good? You're zoning out," Elle suddenly chimed in as she stared up at me with curiosity. I peered into her eyes. They were once so bright and pure, but they'd seen things she wasn't supposed to see. The innocence had been deprived from her once light eyes, like mine. They were now empty circles of dull color.

"Yeah, just reminiscing to the good old days, you know?"

Elle smiled sadly, and I felt my heart clench. Why was it doing that? What reason did I feel my heart being caged? Maybe it was because my grandmother and my parents were gone. They were never coming back, and everything was fine. Maybe it's because my friends are dead. 

The heart clenching isn't from sadness or sorrow. It's guilt. 

It's guilt because I know what happened and why. But Elle can't find out. If she does, she'll never forgive us, or herself. We'd worked so hard and long to protect her from the truth of it all. When I told Jax, he was so pissed off at me for keeping it a secret. He didn't talk to me for at least a few days until I'd explained.

But Elle wasn't like him. She wasn't strong, or determined. She was soft, and enjoyed the simplicities life had to offer. Jax, well, he was destined to be the Alpha, or so he had thought. 

Elle's POV

"Remember when Kylie Burkette fell into the pond last summer because she was trying to impress Peter?" I asked her, with a chuckle. That day, my childhood enemy had face-planted into an algae filled pond and walked out with a sad frown full of shame and despair. 

Sarah suddenly laughed as she began to braid my hair. "That was the greatest day for you. Considering that little brat once put glue in your hair in the first grade!" 

We both began laughing.

"Remember Dylan? Oh my God, he was so funny!" Sara howled as she continued to tousle through my hair. I let out a shrill chuckle.

"Okay, but when he pulled the fire alarm that one time my sophomore year, that was priceless."

"Yeah, 'cause then when every teacher went out into the halls in confusion there were a bunch of bullfrogs jumping around. I think Carrie Nolen even threw up on one cuz she has a fear of frogs."

I began to laugh when I remembered Dylan's senior prank that year. Everyone had been so confused and many of the humans were either screaming or picking up the poor frogs and tossing them about. 

"I still have no idea how he had gotten that many."

"No one does, that's why the prank is timeless."

We both laughed as we remembered that day where massive croaking filled the once too silent hallways of Trinity League Highschool. I'd never laughed so hard in my life when I saw one of the teachers trip over a frog.

"I think the best day was when I found out you and Jax were mates," I switched topics with a smile.

"That was pretty awesome."

We became silent, reminiscing in that perfect summer afternoon.

I was 14, Sara and Jax were three years older, so 17. The two were as thick as thieves growing up. Sara was a total tomboy, wearing cargo shorts and Ed Hardy vans that had tigers and dragons printed on them with flames enveloping their bodies. Her hoodies were twice her size, but that didn't matter to her. 

She was tough, one of the guys, and didn't mind. If a boy tried to downplay her abilities due to her gender and her petite size, she'd prove to them she was one hell of a wolf. One summer, Jax had just turned 17, and Sara not too far behind. The two were going to hang out at the pond that Kylie Burkette had fallen into.

We'd planned a huge surprise for Jax that day in our neighbor's backyard who had owned a ranch out in the country. Everything had been set up in Bohemian style. We'd hung bottles with candles inside up in the old oak tree that me, Jax, and Sara had played under when we were young.

We had all noticed that Sara and Jax were an hour behind, and of course the pack started to worry so everyone ditched the surprise party, and went to search around. You can imagine my own surprise when I go looking near the pond to see Jax on top of Sara, each missing vital articles of clothing.

I'd given them their privacy, and requested they return to the party we were going to throw for them. I didn't want to have the hard work go to waste. They gussied up, and returned to the surprise party hand in hand with huge smiles on their faces. 

They'd come out to the pack they were mates - or mated in my opinion. It was a happy day, everyone congratulating the two who nodded politely with bright red faces. We were all connected that day, happy for our packmembers. We were a family.

"Sara."

"Hm?" She asked. 

"I'm leaving."

She stopped playing with my hair and came to sit on the floor right next to me. She brought her arms up around her knees. 

"Are you?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

"Dunno. But now we live a bit farther it should be easier."

"Elle, that's ludicrous. Do you know what we're dealing with? Just because we're not constantly around them doesn't mean they don't have posted assholes watching over this apartment. Watching over us. For all we know, they're watching Jax right now." Her words seemed to have stunned her, and the reality of it all hit her.

"Oh my God, they could be watching Jax."

I grabbed her arms good and tight, staring at her. "No. Now isn't the time to panic. We'll set a time. If he isn't back by then, we'll either make a complaint to Baine that if he's not back, then . . . well . . . shit then we'll do something. If they don't agree to help us find him, then we'll go."

Sara seemed to be thinking this over in her head. With glossy eyes, she nodded and wiped her lashes with her arm. I brought my arm around her and pulled her close to me. "1 hour, but that's it," She said with a sniffle.

"It's not safe here."

"I know."

"Then we should leave."

"Elle..."

"I know. I know it'll be dangerous, but we have to try. For our parents. For Kylie, Dylan, Peter, Lyle, Amanda, Greg, Annalise, Henry and Boyde, Fin, Lucas, Mikey, Valerie. For everyone we once knew. For everyone who died for us to live."

Sara was crying now, and I think I was too. I felt my cheeks, which were now wet.

"Sara, please. It's a long shot. But we won't know if we never try."

"I-I don't know. If we're caught."

"We're important to them Sara. They didn't kill us. For one, I'm Baine's soulmate. I know that means next to nothing, but I can't be touched. As for you and Jax, Jax is a royale, and you're his mate. We're both nearly untouchable. I know it's a cocky thing to say, but we won't die."

"There are worse things than death Elle."

And she was right. But tonight. Tonight we wouldn't know death, or fear, or whatever it was Red Claw pack could do to us. Tonight we'd plan. Plan our escape. Plan our freedom.

Hey guys, a short chapter, but hey I at least updated LOL

So I know what's going to happen with the story now. You guys are going to be SO SHOCKED OMG I'm excited for you all to know what's gonna happen >:)

So, I had some controversy about a few things earlier. 

I was told by a certain someone -  I will not point out who - that I do not care about my readers. 

This is the most ultimate, "ludicrous" (as Sara would say) thing I've ever heard. My readers are my family, and I want you all to know that you mean a great deal to me even if I don't voice it. You have a problem with life? Need someone to talk to? DM me and we're gonna chat and be besties.

Like, you having a bad day at school, DM me and I will answer ALWAYS. We are a family now, like Jax, Elle and Sara. Wattpad is   a safeplace, and I want you all to know you can always talk to me about anything, I answer all DMs.

Plus, if that doesn't show for how much I care for you, then just know that I never wanted to continue this book in the first place. But I do it because of you guys, and this book is your safeplace, your virtual escape from reality. I'm doing it all for you guys now, you are all my only motivation. Not myself, not at all.

I just want you all to know.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, vote and comment (: