"There is no fair in life and death. If it were, no good men would die young."
~Mitch Alborn

Anna

When I came to, I still lay atop of Dom, who sighed in relief when he saw me awake. Groaning, I asked, "What happened?"

"You hit your head," he said.

"I did?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry, Anna. It's my fault... all I could think of was getting you out of the way of the truck, and by the time we both hit the ground, I realized I knocked us into some big rocks. I tried to brace your fall, but your head still found a rock."

"You saved my life, don't be sorry. How did you break your back?"

"A rock found my back instead of my head," he grunted. "I'm not positive it's broken, but the pain is excruciating, and I don't want to find out the hard way. Sorry, you're stuck in this position."

"Stop apologizing. I'm not the one with a broken back."

"Keep talking to me. If I fall asleep, I'll move, and then I'll be in a world of hurt, if not death."

"Please don't die on me."

"Technically, I'd die under you."

I snorted. "Don't die! I quite like you, you know."

"Feelings mutual. Besides, I don't want to leave you by yourself in those midnight rendezvous. Be the awkward fifth wheel."

"Or I just don't go. Finn and Rey seem to have a good handle on the situation."

"Like any good Betas would."

"You think Finn is Beta material?"

"Elsa may be Omega in your pack, but he's made her his Alpha. And you. He goes where she goes. Or you. Either one."

"My brothers always did joke about the two of us being Alphas."

"You two certainly act like it, albeit maybe not as cocky."

"Anna!" My mother yelled in a panic. I refrained from moving, but it didn't take long for my mom to come into my line of vision. To my surprise, Dom's dad was beside her.

"Before you try moving us, Dom's back might be broken. He needs immediate medical attention," I said calmly.

"Arya, stay with them. I'm going to go grab some paramedics," Chris Stark said. Strangely, my mom didn't argue with his order. But I guess the health of their kids overcame anything like that...

Or at least I thought so.

Spencer

Elsa's nails dug into my arm as she shook from the pain. She'd been in the direct path of the semi. While I'd been able to pull her main body out of the way in time, her legs weren't so lucky. Both were broken, with the bone sticking out of one of them. I tried not to focus on that while I attempted to keep her calm. If digging her nails into my arm helped, then so be it.

"Help is on the way," I told her.

"Where's Anna? How bad is it? I don't want to look," she responded, staring up at the sky. The stars were beginning to peek out of the disappearing cloud cover. At least the snow had stopped.

I glanced at the bone, sticking out of her leg again as I said, "I can't see where Anna is. And um... be glad you have the enhanced healing abilities you do."

"That bad, huh?"

"That bad. Sorry, honey."

Elsa smiled. "Since when do you call me 'honey'?"

"Since I hit my head on the concrete," I replied with an accompanying chuckle.

"Are you okay?!" Elsa exclaimed, craning her head to look at me. Worry etched itself onto her face.

"I'm fine. I've had my fair share of concussions."

"Why on earth have you-"

"Jack, Max, and I got into a lot of stuff we shouldn't have when we were younger. Most of it included us falling down rocky hills and falling out of trees. More than once, I hit my head and gave myself a concussion," I confessed.

"That explains so much about you," she said.

"Hey!" I protested. "I'll have you know I'm perfectly fine in the head, even with all my past head injuries."

"Debatable, but I'll take your word for it." She grinned at me.

"You're lucky, I love you." She smiled wistfully up at me, returning the sentiment. We would've continued our conversation had our attention not been drawn to my mom and Elsa's dad rushing up to us.

"Dad, I'm fine," Elsa said even though that was definitely not the case. She still hadn't looked at her leg. "Spencer got me out of the way of the truck."

"I tried to get her completely out of the way but her legs... I'm sorry, sir," I said. I tried..."

Ren knelt down next to us. "Don't apologize. You saved my daughter's life. Elsa, does it hurt to move?"

"I haven't tried. Where's Anna? I can't see her," Elsa said.

"Your mom and Chris are with her and Dom. It seems Dom has broken his back," Ren informed.

"He's done what?" I exclaimed. I experienced an immense pang of guilt for not worrying about my brother. I hadn't known he'd been in the line of the truck's path, and the only thought running through my head at that point in time had been to save Elsa, but I still should've thought of my brother.

"They're getting him on a stretcher now. Elsa, this is going to hurt, but I'm going to lift you up," Ren warned. Gingerly, he scooped his daughter into his arms. I saw her face scrunch up in pain, but she didn't cry out. "Hayley, will you two be okay?"

Mom nodded. "We're fine. I'm glad your daughter is safe."

"I'm glad your sons are." The Alphas nodded at each other. Ren walked off before Elsa could say something to me. I watched them go.

"Spencer, are you okay, sweetie?" Mom inquired, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine. I just want to make sure Elsa is. She had bone poking out of her leg. That... that's not supposed to- is she going to be okay?"

"The Laroche girl will be fine."

"Her name is Elsa."

Mom's face hardened. "I know that, but the use of names causes attachment, and I would hope your friendship with her from the school year has not continued."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your father and I put two and two together when your packmates started complaining of you defending her, and when you suddenly were staying after school to study for classes you had with her. I can assure you her parents know as well. I also hope it was nothing more than friendship. We cannot be involved with the Laroches."

"Why not?" I demanded. "They haven't done anything-"

"Spencer," my mom cut in harshly. "There will be a time when you understand why we cannot be involved with them. Now let's get home."

Mom helped me stand up. I was, admittedly, a little woozy, but I managed to start walking back to my parents' car. I saw Elsa inside an ambulance. She was sitting up, staring at her leg in a daze. Anna was by her side, head in her hands. As if sensing my gaze, Elsa lifted her head. She mouthed 'thank you' to me, which I nodded back to silently say 'you're welcome.'

"Oh no," mom breathed. I followed her line of sight to a body bag with Sam and Casey Fray sobbing over it. I hurriedly ticked off each Laroche kid in my head, and the only one I found unaccounted for was Barry- Thea's little brother. My heart sank as it dawned on me this accident had cost the life of an innocent. My heart sank even further when I heard Thea scream her brother's name. The two of us had never gotten along, but that didn't mean I wanted her to endure this kind of pain. It didn't mean I didn't feel for her.

Diana, having finally understood what was going on, froze in place. Gracie pulled her into a hug, which the eldest Fray seemed unable to return.

One by one, the rest of the Laroche pack registered they'd lost one of their own. My mom pulled me by my hand, wordlessly urging me to quit looking at the heartbreaking scene before us.

When we reached the car, Lily pulled me into a hug, burying her head into my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her, relieved to know she was okay, and savoring having my big sister around. I couldn't bear the thought of ever losing her or Dom. I silently prayed I'd never have to know that feeling...