18

Normal POV

Rafael made it to work pretty happy despite not sleeping at all. He managed to pay attention enough to prepare for his cases this afternoon. He had to head into the precinct to discuss a case Olivia and some of the other detectives would be sitting in on next week.

"Despite looking so tired, Barba, you look insanely happy." Amanda pointed out. Olivia smiled as their ADA smiled.

"Yes. Well I can say happily that everything is going well with Amara. I'm sure I scored major points by buying her a car." he said almost braggingly. Everyone's eyes popped.

"Ooh a car. Ladies love it when you buy them a car." Fin stated.

"Yeah well she needed one, and I figured I could beat her parents plans to get her one by buying one for her first. That way she can get around on her own and I won't have to worry about her taking busses. Now with that serial killer on the loose, I'd like her car to be a weapon too should anyone try anything." he explained.

"Well they're gonna have an entire police force on their ass if they ever decided that." Carisi said. Rafael smirked at him. Olivia's desk phone began to ring, then Amanda's then Carisi, then Fin's. Barba's eyes squinted a bit at how unusual for everyone's phone to start ringing. However when they all answered it, one by one, their eyes began to widen, their faces dropping in total panic and shock. It seemed the entire precinct was getting the call as everyone began to jump to their feet grabbing their bullet proof vests. Rafael looked at Olivia as she grabbed her gun.

"What's going on?" he asked swiftly. Olivia looked at him quickly.

"There's an active shooter at Marymount University." she said. Barba's stomach felt it had dropped out of his body as his eyes widened.

"That's Amara's school!" he said quickly watching as everyone began to rush from the room. Rafael started to follow, but Olivia stopped him quickly.

"You need to stay here in case you hear from Amara!" she demanded. Rafael's eyes widened more.

"My beta could be in trouble I have to go!" he demanded.

"Barba!" she yelled, there was no time for arguments.

"I'm waiting with the ambulances, that's not up for debate!" he yelled running past her. Olivia had no time to talk and she turned and followed her team out.

Amara's POV

My vision was blurry as I finally came to. I remember hearing loud shots and feet running over me. My head was pounding and faint yelling could be heard. I slowly opened my eyes after shutting them and saw a figure lying in front of me. After blinking numerous times, my vision cleared and I saw who it was. I groaned some and slowly rolled onto my stomach.

"Sadie." I groaned out in pain. She wasn't moving and her eyes were closed. "Sadie!" I slowly managed to lift myself to see her. Her body was covered in a large red spot and numerous holes were in her chest and neck. I stared at her for a long moment, not being able to figure out what I was seeing.

"Sadie, get up." My throat hurts from being stepped on. I cried as I crawled over to her. "GET UP!" I shook her body some and she still wouldn't wake up. Why? Why won't she wake up! My heart jolted now as I heard another roar. But it wasn't someone yelling it was multiple bangs. I placed my hand on the nearest object which was the edge of my table and got up. Foot prints were all over my outfit. I was trembling now as I slowly looked down again to see more bodies sleeping on the ground. They shouldn't be sleeping we have a test.

I heard more screaming coming from all around me and I slowly looked down upon feeling my bottom start to vibrate. I blink a few times before I start to reach behind me and feel for my phone. It's Rafael. I plan to answer it but the banging was closer this time. But I didn't move. My legs were locked where they were. I had dropped my phone now as I heard footsteps entering the room. I slowly turned to face the person. Was it a good guy? Was it the bad guy? I stare at a slim, Hispanic face with short hair and brown eyes. He's in a red hoodie with black boots with a very large gun in his hands. His hoodie looks heavy as if he has something hidden under his jacket. He holds the big gun up to me and I stare at his face.

Light brown eyes that are beautiful yet red and water from tears. He's about to pull the trigger.

"Why are you crying?" I asked. This person is a student. His hoodie has the school's name on it. His eyes just widen some as he lowers his gun just a bit before angrily looking at me and holding it back up walking up to me.

"Are you an alpha? Or a beta?" he asked. His tone got so angry upon saying the word beta. But I was so numb, so needing to finish my test.

"Beta." I replied lifelessly. He shook his head.

"Prove it." he said wildly. I just stared at him now, my face wet with tears. What did it matter? He clearly hated betas, why were we even here together at this moment? My heart starts to beat faster and faster.

"How does one prove she is owned? I am not given a collar and there are no bruises on me to state I am put in my place. We've been taught most women are betas. It's elementary facts." I replied. The guy looked at me angrily and he was huffing and puffing. "Why are you crying?" Why did you do this? Why did you kill my classmates? What do you want? He squinted at me some.

"I've seen you… on campus and in magazines. You're that girl who was with fighter Billy Conlan. He said you have an alpha. So you are a beta!" he said panting heavily.

"If you're picking people off by status, then just continue with whatever your plan is!" I yelled. The boy stared at me now, slowly stepping toward me. He could have killed me from far away, why did he have to get closer. My body trembled violently as he neared. I suspected he just wanted to shoot me up close. I immediately see Rafael's face as we are lying in bed together, our fingers playing in each other's hands. There will be no more playing or teasing or kissing or loving.

The arguments are gone now and I will never be able to see him happy again. The shooter stood right in front of me now and placed the end of his gun to my chest. It was hot, and burned a hole in my sweater all ready. He just stared at my chest now, eyes blank and numb.

"You stepped out on your alpha." he said angrily.

"And he forgave me." I replied quickly. Like this conversation even mattered. Like I could convince this man of anything now. He didn't even seem to process my words.

"I told her I was her alpha… and she rejected me. I told her I would do anything to make her happy… and she laughed in my face. She said she would never give herself to me for as long as she lived. She was going to marry a man of worth. She said I wasn't worth anything. My beta, said that to me!" he said, his voice breaking into a yell. I winced at his words, not even realizing I had raised my hands up. I nodded slowly noticing the end of a handgun sticking out of his front pocket. "She was supposed to be mine and she chose not to be. There was nothing else I could do. I had to ensure she was mine, but she said she wouldn't as long as she lived. Now she gets to be mine." My eyes just stared at him wide. He killed his beta. I know he did.

"There's nothing else left now. She cared more about this school and her friends than she did about me. And now I took all of her friends. All of her family." he said hysterically. I just nodded eyes weakening as I felt I had no fight left in me.

"Lo siento." I whispered, and his eyes snapped up at me as he looked at me with wide eyes. I sniffled and shook my head crying now, "I'm sorry we hurt you. No one deserves to be alone, especially not an alpha. My alpha is horrible to me. He hurts me and beats me… and all I want- all I've ever wanted was someone to love me! All I want is an alpha who will love me."

Slowly my hands raised out to him shaking violently. This wasn't fooling him.

"I will be your beta if you will be my alpha and be good to me." I cried and he just looked at me, tears still streaming down his face and he slowly lets the gun drop to the ground. He looks defeated and so tired. "Come." He holds his hands out to me, and he just walks over to me and wraps his arms around me. I feel him against me. My arms lock around him and I rub the back of his head just calming him. It's so close, so very close.

"My beta." he whispered almost content, as if in a daze as well. He's so out of it from losing his beta, he's probably willing to accept anyone to fill that role.

"I'll never let anything happen to you." I whispered, my eyes completely dead, my tone gentle and soft. My hands gently wrap around his stomach and in one quick movement, my hand reaches down. You only have one shot. I grab the gun, hold it tight, look him dead in his eyes as he looks back at me as if utterly betrayed, but my fingers wouldn't squeeze the trigger. POP! POP! POP! His body jerks forward and he falls into me. I drop the gun as I fumble back screaming now in complete hysteria. People in black surround me.

"Put your hands up and keep them raised!" someone commands, and I do. I'm shaking hard as I cry even harder, eyes shut wanting everything and everyone around me to disappear.

"AMARA! AMARA! IT'S ME IT'S OLIVIA!" I hear someone yelling over me, grabbing my face hard. I finally open my eyes and I see her sweating face as she's nodding slowly at me. "It's okay! It's okay!" Olivia. Olivia means safe. Olivia means Rafael. Rafael meant safe. But none of them were who I wanted at this very moment. I cried harder as she held me close to her.

"I WANT MY MOM AND DAD! I WANT MY MOM AND DAD!" I bawled and chanted.