Fair warning, this chapter will mess with your feelings, but stay with me and definitely read through to the end. Without further adieu, enjoy!

Roman POV

Well this is uncomfortable to say the least. Bayley hasn't spoken a word to me since our shift started, literally not one word. She didn't say anything when we left the den. She didn't say anything when we arrived on the west side. She didn't even say anything when we came across our first vampires. It was an interesting encounter too. They didn't even bother fighting us. They took one glimpse at us, yelled, "it's Bayley," and ran away. I would have laughed had Bayley and I been on speaking terms. The second set of vampires, female identical twins, weren't so fearful. Although they definitely recognized Bayley.

"Look Nikki, if it isn't, Bayley," one of the twins said.

"I see her, Brie. We haven't seen you in a while, Bayley. You don't like playing with us anymore," the second twin teased.

"Looks like she brought a friend with her too."

"Is he a big bad wolf too, Bayley?"

"A big bad handsome wolf. Have you finally found a mate, Bayley?" In an instant Bayley transformed and lunged at Nikki, tackling her to ground before sinking her fangs into Nikki's arms. Brie threw Bayley off her twin, before I transformed, myself, and tackled her. Bayley immediately resumed her attack on Nikki, clawing at her face. While I was distracted, Brie managed to land a kick to my jaw. The vamp could kick hard, but the most I'll have is a bruise. I turned my full attention to Brie, as she went for another kick. Big mistake. I caught her leg in between my canines before tossing her into a tree, hard. I go to pounce on her, but she moved out of the way. Instead of continuing to fight, Brie gathered Nikki and they both ran away. Bayley went to run after them, but I get in her way, stopping her in her tracks. She stared daggers at me before reverting to her human form and walked away from me. I changed back to my human form and followed her.

I'm still following her too. She hasn't even looked back at me since the fight with the twins. I'm not used to Bayley ignoring me. She's always been my shadow. To have her not talk to me, to not have her not look at me, or acknowledge me, especially when we're alone… I don't like this, and it needs to stop. "Bayley," I call out loudly. She ignores me again and keeps walking. I'm not about to have her ignoring me when I'm trying to talk to her. I run up in front of her and grab her by her shoulders, but she brushes me off quickly.

"Don't touch me!"

"What the hell is wrong with you, Bayley?"

"So what you're going to pretend this afternoon didn't happen?!"

"Bayley you can't be mad at me for telling you the truth."

"You didn't tell me the truth! I know for a fact that I'm not a child! I'm not the same little puppy that used to follow you around."

"Bayley you continued following me up until Jojo came in the house."

"That's the only proof you can quote that I'm still a puppy?" Huh?

"What do you mean?"

"For the past five years, I've held my own on the Westside. I had to learn how to fend for myself because I didn't have you to take care of me anymore."

"What do you mean take care of you?"

"You've been babying me all my life!" Needless to say I'm pretty taken back by her statement. I never babied her! "You fought all my battles for me, but never taught me how to fight. You made all my meals, but never taught me how to cook. Not once have you ever given me any kind of tool so that I can become independent, but then you complain that I'm a puppy? Where is the logic in that?" I can't believe what she's saying right now. Mostly because it's true. I've never really given Bayley a reason to grow up, so I guess her immaturity is on me.

"Okay, I'll take responsibility for what I've done in the past."

"But you won't take responsibility for the reason why." What is that supposed to mean?

"What are you talking about?"

"There had to have been a reason you babied me." What's she getting at? "You wanted me to need you."

"Where'd you get that idea?!" Has she lost her mind? She's developed quite the imagination.

"Face it, Roman. Your little brothers stopped needing you before I was even born. Paige was born independent. You wanted someone to depend you, and that someone was me!" She starting to cry now, but I'm in shock. Did she just analyze me?

"Don't pretend to know me, Bayley."

"You can't even deny it, can you? You know I'm right. You always have to feel needed, and no one else needs you as obviously as I do." She's poking at something deep inside me. She couldn't possibly be right… could she? I mean, Dean and Seth stopped needing me when we were five. They were always so independent and learned things on their own very quickly. I never had the luxury of really being a big brother to them. When Bayley and Paige were born, their mother told all of us that they would need our help to survive in the world. When I held Bayley for the first time and she opened her eyes at me, I couldn't help but feel like she was my second chance at being there for someone, at protecting someone and living for someone. "Are you going to say anything, Roman?" I'm obviously taking too long to answer her.

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to admit it." Admit what? "I want you to admit that you need me to need you." I can't admit that. If I admit it I might end up doing something that I'll regret.

"Aww! Look at them struggle with their emotions, Rosa." Bayley and I turn and look up in the trees. On two separate branches we see two women, one with short blonde hair and tanned skin, and another with long brown hair and dark skin.

"I think it's funny how they fight themselves, Alicia, but it's of no consequence to us," the blonde, who I guess is Rosa, answers Alicia.

"I suppose not, but I do suppose that these are the wolves that our queen wanted us to deliver a message to," Alicia responds.

"Who are you," I ask them, pulling Bayley behind me out of instinct.

"Oh! Where are our manners? My name is Rosa and this is Alicia."

"We were sent by the Queen of Sirens, Natalya, to send a message to the wolves who currently house Kaitlyn. You two wouldn't know her, would you?" I narrow my eyes at them. What message could they possibly want to send us?

"What do you want with Kaitlyn," Bayley asks before I can hush her. Dammit why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut? Both Rosa and Alicia let out a hard laugh before answering Bayley.

"You know exactly what we want her for," Alicia informs Bayley.

"And now that we know we have the right wolves, we can deliver our message," Rosa adds. They jump off their respective branches and land right in front of us.

"And what message would that be," I ask them.

"You and your little band of wolves are in our way, and you don't want to block a siren's path," Alicia tells me.

"Are you threatening us," I ask again.

"Not at all," Rosa answers. "Why, in fact… " in an instant Rosa throws me against the nearest tree. She's a lot stronger than she looks. When my back hits the tree it knocks all the wind out of my lungs. I fall to my knees and try to catch my breath, but before I know it Rosa knocks me to the ground, jumping on me and holding my hands behind my back and holding my head up by my hair. I struggle to get out of her grip, but I can't. I feel like her touch is sucking all the strength out of me and I can't throw her off me. When I look up I see Bayley on her knees with Alicia behind her, holding Bayley's behind her back as well. "We are promising you, there will be consequences. Consider this one of them." As soon as Rosa finishes her sentence, Alicia snaps Bayley's neck and she falls to the face first to the ground. My world literally stops. This can't be real. This isn't real! I feel my strength return to me and I notice that Rosa and Alicia are gone. I rush over to Bayley and snap her neck back place. I cradle her in my arms and wait for something… any sign of life. Her bones are back in place. She'll heal, she'll be okay…

"Bayley?" I shake her a little, but there's no response. "Bayley, come on we have to go back to the den." Still nothing. "Bayley? Bayley don't do this to me! Bayley please? Please don't leave me!" She remains still in my arms with her eyes closed. "Oh my God, this can't be happening. This isn't happening!" I notice that Bayley's face is wet, but it's not raining. I put a hand to my face and realize that I'm crying. Have I been crying this entire time? I've only ever cried when my mother died. I didn't even cry at my father's funeral, but now… I just can't help it. Bayley is… was my entire reason for living. She gave me someone to live for, and now she's gone. Fucking… why am I realizing this now?! After everything I said to her, this is how it ends? I'll get never get a chance to tell her how stupid I am! I'll never get to see her smile again, or hug her or watch her play with Jojo… oh my God, Jojo! How am I going to explain this to her? And Paige! Paige lost both her mother and father. Bayley was all she had left! What am I going to tell her?! I've failed. I failed them all. "I'm so sorry, Bayley. I'm sorry." I cry into the crook of her neck while holding really close to me. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

Punk POV

It's almost 2 in the afternoon, and, by now, everyone has returned from guard duty, except Roman and Bayley. Where the hell are they? I'm already tense because Kaitlyn pissed me off yesterday and April refuses to share a room with me so she spent the night with Kaitlyn and Jojo in the basement. I pace the living room, furious as hell. I feel like throwing something, but I restrain myself because Jojo is here right now playing with Layla. I hear the front door open and watch as Dean and Kaitlyn return from their training session.

"Did you guys see Roman and Bayley out there," I ask them.

"They aren't back yet," Dean asks me. "We haven't seen them. It's unlike Roman to show up so late after guard duty."

"You don't think something happened to them do you," Kaitlyn asks. I don't want to think that way, but I can't rule it out either.

"I'll take Charlotte and Eve on a search and rescue," I say aloud. As I walk upstairs I pick up a familiar scent. It's Roman and Bayley, but something is off about Bayley's scent. It smells like… oh no. "Layla, take Jojo down to the basement now and don't come out until I say so." Layla looks at me surprised, but she doesn't question me and goes to the basement after picking up Jojo. When she closes the door I look at Dean and I know he has the same idea I do.

"For Paige's and Jojo's sake, I hope I'm inaccurate about that smell," Dean comments.

"What are you guys talking about," Kaitlyn asks, switching her attention between the me and Dean. I hear the door open and Roman walks into the living room, holding Bayley bridal style. Her skin is pale and her eyes are closed. She could just be sleeping. Please let her just be sleeping. I look up at Roman, but his head is down. He won't lift his head at all.

"Roman," I call out questioningly. He keeps his head down, but he answers me.

"I thought she would heal, b-but…" Roman is choking on his words and he can barely get them out. I can hear his shaky breathing and I know he's crying. "I couldn't protect her."

"Oh my God," I hear Kaitlyn whisper as she covers her mouth and starts tearing. Dean goes into a rage and throws over a couch before going to a wall and crying into it. I try to keep my emotions in check; I need to find out what happened.

"Roman, how did this happen?"

"Fucking sirens! Rosa and Alicia. Th-they said Natalya sent them. Wanted us out of their way!" He breaks down into full blown tears and falls to his knees with Bayley's body still in his hands. He holds her close and cries in the crook of her neck.

"Roman-"

"Tell me this isn't true," I'm interrupted by a voice coming from the stairs. I turn around to find everyone on the stairs right behind the voice, Paige. All of them look at Bayley in Roman's arms, in total disbelief and shock. "My sister, my twin, the only one I have left in the world isn't dead." Paige walks to Roman with tears threatening to fall from her eyes. It's the first time Roman lifts his head. He looks like absolute crap. He puts Bayley on the ground gently and addresses Paige.

"I'm sorry, Paige," he tells her.

"That's all you have to say to me? You're sorry? You still have your brothers, who do I have now?!" Paige is spiraling into a fury. Her voice is full of sadness and anger.

"I don't know what else to say, P-" Roman is interrupted when a thunderous slap is delivered to his face. "Paige, please," Paige slaps him again, harder this time on the same cheek. "Just listen to me!" Paige flies into an uncontrollable rage and lunges at Roman, bringing him to the floor before punching and clawing at him furiously. Roman doesn't try to fight back, he just protects himself and lets Paige unleash all her anger on him. Charlotte and Sasha rush over to Paige and Roman, pulling Paige off of him and holding her back.

"It's your fault, Roman," Paige screams, kicking and struggling to get out of Charlotte's and Sasha's hold. "You promised to protect her! You promised! She's dead now and it's your fault! You did this!" She finally collapses from exhaustion and just cries hysterically.

"Sasha, Charlotte, take Paige to her room. Don't let her out until she calms down," I order. Sasha and Charlotte lift up Paige and carry her upstairs. As I hear the door close, indicating that Paige is in her room, I look around me to check on everyone. Dean is still crying on the wall and April is hugging Kaitlyn as they cry together. Sami is looking out the window silently crying. Corey is in a blind fury and is in the dining room destroying all the furniture, Sheamus has punched a hole into the wall and Eve is in tears. Seth is the only one that is completely void of emotion, but I know it's only because he's in shock. Bayley was the puppy of this pack. She was our pure sweetheart. Someone who grounded us. The sirens don't get away with this. I'll be damned if they do. "They don't get away with this," I say loudly to grab everyone's attention. All eyes on are now on me. "I'm going to make a few calls to our international pack members. We're going to create an army. We're going to the Realm of Sirens. And we will kill… everything. In. Sight."

Roman POV

Everyone is still downstairs by the time I pick up Bayley and take her to her room. She'll stay here until we are ready to bury her. I lay her down on her bed and pull up a chair to sit at her side. I can't leave her yet. I may not have been the one who killed her, but Paige is right. This is my fault. I should have tried harder. I should have protected her. All those things I said to her on her last day on Earth. I regret all of it. I wish I could take it all back. I wish she was still here. In what world does the sweetheart die and the jerk that rejected her get to live? I take her hand in mine. I have so many things to say to her, but what would saying any of it matter now? I need to say it anyway, though. I need to get it off my chest. "Bayley, I'm sorry. I know I said that already, but I really really am. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry for calling you a child. I'm sorry for enabling you, and I'm sorry that I realized what you mean to me too late. It's funny. I've been calling you a puppy all this time, when in reality I was the one acting childish. I wish I had a second chance-"

"Roman?" I hear a small voice enter the room. Please don't let it be who I think it is, but I know it's her. That scent is unmistakable. "Bayley play?" I turn my head to Jojo as she takes tiny steps in the room and stands next to me. What am I supposed to tell this little girl? She already lost her entire family, and although she doesn't remember it, it sucks that she has to go through another death at such a young age.

"Not right now, Jojo." What else am I supposed to say? She looks at Bayley lying on the bed and tilts her head.

"Bayley sleep?" No.

"Yeah."

"Wake up soon?" No.

"I don't know."

"I stay Bayley?" I can't let her lay next to Bayley's dead body, but how can I explain this to her? I put my hand on the top of Jojo's head and turn to her, but, before I can speak, there's a bright flash emitted from Jojo's eyes. I quickly protect my eyes with my hand, but bring it down when the flash dissipates. Jojo's eyes are completely white and I'm really freaked out.

"Hi sweetie," Jojo says in a voice I automatically recognize.

"Mom?"

"It's good to speak with you again. My you've gotten so big!"

"Is that really you, Mom?"

"Yeah, it is. I know it's hard to believe. When you touched Jojo's hair I was called to her. I guess you really needed to talk to me huh?" Jojo smiles and looks over at Bayley. "I'm sorry about Bayley, Roman. I know you've been watching over her since she was born. You've been really good to her."

"She doesn't seem to think so."

"In the short time that she's been on the other side, I know that not to be true. Yes, you enabled her, but at the same time she wouldn't be the Bayley everybody knows and loves if you hadn't. She wouldn't be the Bayley you love."

"You've seen her… on the other side?" Jojo nods her head and looks up at me.

"Sweet girl. She died before her time, and because she did she hasn't met her parents yet."

"What do you mean?" She turns her gaze back at Bayley.

"When we die, our souls go to the other side, but only if we died the way we were meant to do we meet our family members who have also passed. If you die before you're supposed to, you wander around the other side until you're called back to Earth." Does that mean that Bayley can come back?

"Mom, can she come back?"

"If you do it the natural way, she would be born again into this world."

"The natural way? Does that mean there's another way to bring her back?"

"There is," my mother tells me. "But it's very risky if not done properly."

"Mom, please tell me what it is."

"Well, black magic is the opposite of all things natural. It can undo anything that is of nature. Dying and death is of nature, therefore, black magic can undo it." All that's going through my mind is that Bayley can come back. I don't care if it's by black magic. I need her back.

"Okay, so I just need black magic?"

"Don't talk about it that way," Mom says sternly, giving me a disapproving look. "Black magic is very dangerous and the only ones who can practice it without consequence are sirens." Of course, fucking sirens are the only ones who can do it. I take a deep breath before an idea pops into my head.

"What about Kaitlyn? She's half siren. She can do the spell can't she?"

"Kaitlyn isn't a fully realized siren. If she tries this spell it'll backfire and you'll have two dead girls on your hands. Only a fully realized siren can cast this spell and bring Bayley back to the world of the living."

"But I don't know any fully realized sirens, Mom. What am I supposed to do?" She sighs and gives me a sympathetic look.

"Just say your goodbyes, sweetie. She can hear them."

"That's not exactly what I wanted to hear."

"I know, but it's all I can tell you." She rubs my arm comfortingly and looks up at me. "I love you, Roman. Tell Dean and Seth I love them too, very much, and am I extremely proud of all of you." I nod my head.

"We love you too, Mom." Jojo's eyes turn brown again and she looks at me confused.

"I stay Bayley," she asks me again.

"No, Jojo, Bayley needs her rest. Go back downstairs and find someone else to play with." Jojo pouts, but obeys and skips out the room. I look back at Bayley. "I'm going to get you back, Bayley. I don't know how, but I will. I promise."

Seth POV

I got out of the den as soon as I could. I can't believe she's gone. Bayley was the sweetest pup I knew. She was the heart of our pack. Are we even a pack anymore without her? I'm just in shock and in total disbelief. There was no way this was true. Just yesterday I was talking to her, laughing with her. She was here yesterday, and now she's… gone, and Roman. Damn. He had to watch it happen. Roman's dedicated his life to protecting Bayley, and she died under his watch, and after Paige blamed him for Bayley's death, Roman must be racked with guilt. As I walk in the woods, I find a fallen tree and have a seat. I don't feel like walking anymore. I don't know what I should do, or should be doing. All I know is I lost one of my best friends. Losing my mother wasn't bad enough. Damn fucking sirens! This is all their fault! I can't wait until the day we invade their realm and pay them back for all they did to us. They won't be getting away with their sins anymore. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Suddenly, my vision goes black as a set of hands covers them from behind me. "Guess who." I recognize the voice and the scent is unmistakable.

"Hi Renee," I greet her flatly. I'm really not in the mood for games, and Renee picks up on it easily.

"I'm happy to see you too," she says sarcastically and jumps over the fallen tree to stand in front of me. She bends down to look at my face, and I can see the concern growing on hers. "What happened to you?"

"I just found out that the youngest member of our pack was killed last night while on guard duty."

"What happened?!"

"According to my brother, two sirens named Alicia and Rosa killed her as a message for us to stay out of their way." She looked at me stunned.

"Are you sure that's the reason they did it? That doesn't seem like a good reason."

"Good reason," I yell and stand up quickly. She falls back on the forest floor in surprise. "What good reason did the sirens have to curse us? What good reason did they have to start this war, or make Kaitlyn kill that entire family? What good reason do the sirens have to do anything that they do?!" She looks up at me completely dumfounded and… hurt? That's strange. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I just… this is difficult for me." Renee gets up from the ground and dusts herself off before speaking.

"I can help." Help?

"How so?"

"Do you know where her body is?"

"Yeah, it's back at the den."

"Take me to her." I'm curious now. Why would she possibly want to see Bayley's dead body?

"Why?" She walks past me and my gaze follows her as she hops over the fallen tree.

"I can bring her back."

I didn't bother introducing Renee to anyone when we got to the den. Mostly because everyone was in either in the dining room or kitchen and didn't notice Renee and I walking in. I walk straight up to Bayley's room with Renee walking closely behind me.

"Hey bro," I greet Roman when I see him sitting on a chair next to Bayley's bed, holding her hand.

"Hey." He doesn't even look at me. He seems like he's in deep thought, but I don't blame him. He's been through a lot and I know he has a lot on his mind. We all do.

"Roman, this is Renee. Renee this is my brother, Roman."

"Nice to meet you, Roman," Renee says to him as she walks into the room. Roman turns his head up at her.

"Nice to meet you too, Renee. Seth's told me a lot about you. I'm sorry we aren't meeting under better circumstances."

"No it's okay. Seth told about what happened, and I'm very sorry for your loss." Roman nods his head and looks at the floor. "But that's why I'm here. I want to help." Roman's eyes snap up at her before his head follows, and he looks at her suspiciously.

"Help how?" Renee smiles before answering.

"I know a spell that will open up a path for Bayley's soul to come back to her body." Roman's expression doesn't change. In fact, he's even more suspicious.

"And you can do this spell?"

"It's not one that I perform often, but I can definitely do it. I just need a few minutes alone with the body."

"And why should I trust you?"

"Because I trust her, Roman," I interject on Renee's behalf. Roman takes a deep breath before getting up from the chair and walking out the door with me. He looks at her with the same suspicion the entire time, never wavering for even a minute. What's wrong with him? Shouldn't he be happy? I close the door and decide to address Roman's attitude. "Dude what's wrong with you? You should be happy that Renee can bring her back."

"I know," Roman tells me with his arms crossed.

"Then what's with the attitude?"

"Seth, Mom spoke to me through Jojo about an hour ago." What?

"What'd she say?"

"She said she loves us and is proud of us." I smile at the thought. I hope I can talk to her again soon, as well. "But she also told me about the ways Bayley could come back to Earth. One was being reborn,"

"Okay well we don't have to wait for that," I interrupt him.

"Let me finish, Seth!" I stay quiet and wait for him to continue. "The other way is through black magic, a spell that only fully realized sirens can cast without consequence." He can't be saying what I think he's saying.

"What are you getting at?"

"You know exactly what I'm getting at. Renee just said that she casted this spell before. You know the consequences of this spell, Seth? Death. She's still very much alive." Realization hits me like a ton of fucking bricks. How could I have been so stupid and naïve?! "I know she told you she was a witch, but that was obviously a lie. She's no witch, Seth."

"She's a siren." I run my hand through my hair and pace around in circles. I want to hit something, but I don't want do anything that would make Renee think that I know. "What do I do?"

"Let her finish the spell. We'll let her go for today. We'll tell Punk in the morning."

"In the morning? Why not right after she finishes the spell?"

"Seth, if you don't mind, I'd like some time alone with Bayley before everyone finds out she's alive. Can you just wait until tomorrow to let everyone know?"

"Okay. You have until day break tomorrow morning."

"Thanks, bro." We share a quick hug before standing back and waiting.

A few moments later Renee steps out of the room with a smile on her face.

"Well," Roman asks, expectantly.

"She'll be fine. Give her some time for her soul to rest. The journey back to the land of the living may have been relatively quick, but it's a difficult one nonetheless. She hasn't been dead for too long, so it shouldn't take more than three or four hours."

"But is she… alive?" Renee nods.

"She's breathing and everything. Go see for yourself." Roman and I walk into the room and carefully observe Bayley. She has the same serene look on her face, but the color has returned to her cheeks and her chest is rising and falling with every breath she takes. She's alive. Oh my God, Bayley's actually alive! I unintentionally start crying, but I wipe the tears away quickly. I look over at Roman to see that he's crying too and has a huge smile on his face as he grabs Bayley's hand and sits back down. I pat him on the back before joining Renee outside the room.

"Roman may not be able to say it right now, but thank you, Renee."

"You're welcome," she replied with a smile. "I'd better go before everyone notices I'm here. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Same time, same place." She nods and in a instant she's gone. I'm definitely grateful that Renee brought Bayley back from the dead, but it doesn't change the fact that she's a siren. Nor does it change the fact that I need to report this to my pack. My loyalty will always be to them first, but I do owe her now.

See!? She wasn't dead for long, so you can stop plotting your riot and my death, lol. I had to kill her to progress the storyline, including 2 of the romances already hinted at in this chapter (hint hint).

Fair warning: the next chapter doesn't have Dean/Kaitlyn or AJ/Punk, but it is absolutely essential to the story. Plus you will get PLENTY of these two couples in chapter 18... trust me!

Leave reviews! Tell me you hate me if need be, but then tell me how much you love me for taking you on an emotional roller coaster (thank you Vivian Green! come out with another album already!)

Also congratulations to AJ and CM Punk on their engagement. They are too freaking cute... now if only Dean and Kaitlyn would happen in real life too lol jk!

-J.