The Scared, The Broken

EDWARD'S P.O.V.

Everything that's happened in the past 45 minutes was a blur, but at the same time, I can remember all of it. I sit in the passenger's seat and turn my head to look back at Rosalia. She hasn't spoken a word since she entered the car. Her head remains facing down as her face looks so distraught. Her eyes are a bit red from silently crying. She'll let a few tears stream down her face and then the tears will dry on their own. I've tried to wipe them and console her, but she won't let me touch her, let alone get near her. My heart aches to see her this way. Where's the happy girl I saw at the restaurant and even at the roof of the school. A lot has been going on for her. Things I wish I could have been there for so she could tell me. Rosalia feels ashamed and is terrified out of her mind right now, but I need to let her know she is not alone.

Taking a short breath, I speak, "Rosalia." In the corner of my eye, I see her flinch terribly. I ball my hands into fists. What did they do to you in there? I stare at her wrists that were free from those dastardly chains, but the redness from her skin remained. I want to rip the head of the person who put them on there. "I understand that a lot has happened since we last met. As of right now, it appears things aren't looking up for you." Her hands immediately clasp together and she holds them tight. I can hear her breathing for a second until she goes silent again. Poor thing. She's afraid of what I'll say.

"I want you to know that everything is going to be okay." For a moment, she freezes in place. Unsure of what to say; she peeks at me in the corner of her eyes. Finally, she's willing to listen to what I have to say. "Things are...complicated right now. I think it's safe to say they're extremely complicated. However, you are not alone. Liam and I are on your side."

I regretted the moment I let that last sentence exit my mouth. Her face dropped and turned into so much despair, I feared she would cry. I have to understand that what comes out of my mouth is crucial. If I remember correctly, back at the restaurant, she stated that she was not Liam's mate. I don't know what's happened between the two of them since then. It could have improved, it may have gotten worse, or nothing might have changed. I don't know. I'm not going to get it out of here, nor do I want to. She's probably been through a lot since then. Being an alpha to a different pack myself, I just don't have that much time to always be around. Even so, I still want to be there for her. I look to see her lips moving, but I don't hear anything. "What?"

"...no, you're not."

I'm taken back by the comment. She must be too afraid to believe me after Liam forced us back into the car together. "I promise you that-"

"You're lying! You heard everything I said back there! You saw the proof you needed to see! I did it, okay?! I attacked Brittany!" The girl who I met to be so shy and quiet was now a fierce, angry, and bitter woman. Her hands clenched the seat so right that the seat could rip at any moment. Her eyes began to repeatedly glow gold. It was as if she was fighting with herself since her eye color kept changing. This was the first time I was seeing her in such a state. How much anger has she held back? How long has this been hurting her? I try to speak, but she continues.

"Don't say you're on my side after hearing everything! I wanted her dead Edward! At first, all I wanted was to hurt her, just so she would understand the pain she put me through. Just to feel hurt emotionally and physically. The way I experienced pain from her. She never cared how she hurt me. She never felt guilt. No apologies were heard from her. I…" She looks at her hands as they shake uncontrollably. I need to stop her. Bringing the story back up won't do her any good. "Rosalia-" She slaps my hands away and glares darkly. Shocked by the fact that she won't even let me calm her down makes me realize the situation is more serious than I thought.

"I wanted to kill her. I would have killed her. But for some reason...I didn't. They charged me with attempted murder. If she was dead, it would have just been murder. Which means...that lowly bitch is still alive. Honestly? At this point, if she had died, and they put me behind bars or killed me, I think I would be okay with that. I mean, I would have solved one of my problems. For me, that's quite the achievement. I've...never been strong. I've never been seen as anyone's equal. For some reason...fate decides to screw some people over while the rest just have it easy."

"Don't talk about yourself like that." Has she always viewed her life like this? She speaks as if she's reached her breaking point. I don't want to hear these horrible words. I hate what she's saying. Where was Liam during all of this?

"I have every right to." Her voice ran so cold that a shiver went down my spine. Her facial was expressionless and unmoving. As if she didn't care anymore. Her eyes became like a dull void of emptiness. "From the beginning, I've always been pushed to the side like I didn't belong. Now, I've become the monster, because I never belonged."

"Rosalia…" She formed a smile as tears streamed down her eyes. My heart broke at the sight. Like a broken doll that can not be repaired, this is the product of Rosalia. Who is to blame? This pack? Brittany? Or my idiot younger brother, Liam? I get in the backseat and hold Rosalia close in my arms. She doesn't move, not even once. She sniffles now and then. In the back of my mind, all I can ponder about is what can be done? Can this be fixed? This whole situation is a lot to deal with. A lot has to be done from this point forward. Holding Rosalia in my arms like this is much different from the first time. When she cried the first time, she wasn't like this. As she lays in my arms, she's unresponsive and cold. Something has to be done.

~

LIAM'S P.O.V.

"Like I said. She's coming with me."

"Alpha...pardon me but you can't take a suspect- no, a criminal away. We have all evidence needed against her!" I sighed. I've been in here for over 30 minutes or more trying to get these clowns to understand why I won't let them hold Rosalia hostage. Yes. They've shown me the pictures. They've shown me the surveillance footage. Everything that they say is "evidence" to prove that Rosalia committed the act. I say to hell with it. I know better than to trust these people right away. Make no mistake, they're the police force, but they haven't been 100% for right. They didn't give her a phone call to her parents. They didn't even give Rosalia a lawyer.

No matter how many times this police captain tries to get me to understand his backward logic, I refuse. Not only can I see the several errors here, but my instincts tell me there's more to this. I look at the surveillance footage once more. It's the same black wolf that many of the pack members described. I can't ignore how the wolf looks. It's an abnormal gigantic size. The black fur that resembles and almost camouflages into the night.

I wasn't even aware that Rosalia had a wolf. Ever since her sixteenth birthday, she has never shifted. I never saw her shift nor felt the presence of her wolf. So why now? I came here expecting to get answers on what's been going on in my pack, only to find out there are more questions that need answers. Rosalia is a lot of things, but she's not a murderer. Earlier, that whole scene with her yelling that she hoped Brittany was dead, doesn't prove anything. She was only expressing her anger and hatred towards Brittany. Anyone who knows her would understand. But cheap assholes who claim to be for justice and just want their job over with will count every and any little thing against her. Of course, as of right now, I can't prove them wrong. But I know I will.

I look up to see the man still talking but I don't hear a word he says. He's been talking nonstop about trying to get me to bring Rosalia back. I called up some men of mine to guard the truck, so they can't get to her even if they want to. I've sat in this uncomfortable ass chair for too long. It's time to go. I got shit to do. "That girl is a monster in our community! We have to get rid of her before she kills us all!"

I feel my blood run cold and my breathing becomes so quiet that it seems like it's disappeared. "Let me explain something to you, Ernest." He stops talking immediately seeing my facial expression change. I can tell he has more to say, but he looks down at his desk, too afraid to say anything. He now knows that he's said too much. What he doesn't know, is from everything he's said since I came into his office, is the fact of what exactly pissed me off. Rosalia isn't a monster. She's never been a monster, and never will be. If anything, I'm the real monster here. I'll take on that role before someone throws it on her. Orion growls in agreeance, and I can tell he wanted to rip the man's throat out for even letting that come out of his mouth. How dare he?

"In case you forgot, I am the Alpha of this pack. Now you tell me what that means." Ernest looked up and opened his mouth. At first, nothing came out. A growl rumbles from my throat, and he quickly goes back to talking. "I-It means...what you say...g-goes…"

"It means that you listen to me. Not only am I alpha. The man before you could one day be king of all wolves one day. You would dare defy me?"

"No….I would never…" I sit back in the seat and close my eyes. Great. Now I'm getting a headache from all this. I've had enough. "You'll give me all so claimed " evidence" you have against Rosalia Gardens. You will not speak a word of this to the public. If this gets out into the pack at all…" My eyes change into Orion's color. I glare darkly as I hold the arms of the seat, "You will wish you had kept your mouth shut. Do I make myself clear, Ernest?"

Ernest nervously rubs his knuckles and slowly nods, "...Yes, Alpha. I won't say a word. I'll make sure no one here says anything...you have my word." Good. Time to get the hell out of here. I stand up and walk towards the door. Opening the door, I look back at Ernest once more. "If I'm disobeyed, you'll receive extra punishment. So you better hope your officers and detectives hold a certain amount of respect for you."

I walk out of the station and make my way towards the truck. I see my men surrounding the truck and give the signal for them to leave. They make way for me to enter and disperse once I shut the door. Edward looks at me, "How'd it go?"

"It doesn't matter since I got what I needed." I look in the back to find Rosalia sleeping on the seat. "She's...really upset by the whole thing. I couldn't get anything of value out of her."

She's been crying. Several dried-up tears stain her little face as she sleeps. I watch her chest move up and down with every breath that she takes. Looking at the bruises on her wrists angers me, but there's no point going back in there to get angry over that. I stated my demands, and they will be met. If not, someone might die. Let's hope we don't get to that part. I can't imagine how she felt. I hate seeing her like this.

"You've got a lot of shit to clear up, Liam" Edward gives me a stern look as I return with a glare. As much as I want to tell him off, he's right. I'll fix everything just like I said before. "I know." I peek in the rearview mirror to see her sleeping face one more time and drive off. A few months ago, I didn't care for this girl, now she's part of my life. I don't know how things went from nothing to drastic and chaotic, but I'll fix it.

That's my promise.