I dialed Elijah\'s number before I put the phone to my ear. "I never expected for you to call me after last night."

"You want me to get out of this business right?"

He paused, "I\'ll do anything to help you."

"If you can do one thing for me, I\'ll listen and follow everything you want and say."

"And what is that?"

I took a deep breath in order not to cry, "save my friends life. If you can do that I will do whatever you want."

"Is it your Alpha?"

I scoffed slightly, "I would never help him."

"Then what is your friend\'s name? Who is he to you that you\'re willing to go this far to save them."

"He is the only family I have," I whispered, "I don\'t know much about his current life, but I can give you information about his past to help you search for him."

"Text his info to me and I will get my people working on it." He paused slightly, "can I come by your place later to talk?"

"Its a shit hole but if you want to, I can\'t stop you."

"Expect me around 8."

"Alright, bye." I hung up and sighed deeply. I looked around the apartment even though I knew I was alone. I rushed into the kitchen and pulled out the vodka bottle. Just like in the past, I didn\'t need anything but the bottle. But this time, I had to hold back enough to not worry the kids. I stuck my headphones in and went out to the porch. I sat down against the wall so that the kids would not see me from next door. I alternated between smoking and drinking as I listened to the music of my youth. I couldn\'t help but think of Asher and Hunter, which made me cry more.

I froze when a door opened and Lamar came out. I wiped my face quickly and forced myself to lessen my tears. He froze when our eyes met.

"What\'d that Omega do?" He hissed as I shook my head.

"He just gave me bad news. He didn\'t do anything wrong." I took a deep breath before taking a large swig of the bottle Lamar couldn\'t see before now as it sat on my other side. "My best friend is dying." He looked to me with pitty as I looked down. I took another swig before looking back to him, "can you keep the kids until 7? I don\'t want them to see me like this."

"Of course," he smirked, "what are friends for?"

I chuckled through my tears, "you are the first Beta other than him to call me their friend." I stood, grabbed the bottle, and went back inside. I went to the couch and continued my repetitive nature until the door was unlocked.

I looked over to see Chase putting his key necklace back on. He paused as he saw me take another swig. He rushed over, "what the hell? You don\'t drink."

I sighed before drinking some more, "today I do."

"What happened?"

"That Omega," I whispered, "he told me my best friend is dying. The guy named Hunter."

He froze, "shit." He rushed over and hugged me. I squeezed him to me as I couldn\'t handle this alone. I began whailing and shaking in his arms. He began kissing my forehead and moving down to my cheek. He then moved his lips onto mine and I froze. He kissed me gently before hugging me again.

"Promise me something," I whispered and I looked back up to my eyes. "Don\'t ever run from your real family. Don\'t make the same mistakes I have."

"Can\'t you just go back and see him?"

I looked to him sadly, "I can never go back."

"Why not?"

I brushed some hair out of his face before giving him a sad smile, "It would put Ashley and Archer\'s lives in danger. I\'m willing to give up my true family to keep them happy and safe."

"Is that Hunter guy trying to hurt them?" "Definitely not," I replied as I fought the urge to continue crying. "He would treasure them more than anyone else."

"Then why would it matter if you went to him?"

I kissed his forehead, just like I did to the twins. "There are a lot of things in this world that make life very difficult. Helpfully you will never have to experience them." I look to the clock and sighed, "I need to go get the kids." I stated and Chase let me go so that I could stand. I put out my current cigarette and then put away the bottle.

I left my apartment, went next door, and knocked. Lamar quickly open the door and gave me a broad smile before letting me in. He led me to the kids who were laying on the rug in front of the TV in the living room.

When they both felt my presence, they jumped to their feet and rushed over. I took both of their hands before smiling towards Lamar and thanking him. The 3 of us left the apartment and went back to our own.

Both kids let go of my hand and rushed to the living room. They turned on the TV in order to finish their show as they knew it was soon time to go to bed.

"My boss sent over some food for us," Chase stated as he looked to me with a sad smile.

I nodded before going in to the twin\'s room and getting out their pajamas. I laid them out on either bed before going into the living room to see the show ending.

"Alright you two, it\'s time for bed." They both grumbled and then slowly dragged their way to their room. I got their beds set up as they went and brush their teeth after getting dressed. They both rushed in to their beds to quickly throw the sheet over their head.

I went over to Ashley\'s bed first and tackled her with a playful growl. She started giggling and squealing as I heard Archer start giggling from under his sheets. I gently rustled Ashley for the covers before pulling it off her head and kissing her entire face with little pecks. It caused her to squeal with glee before grabbing either side of my face and kissing my nose.

I then turned around and came at Archer, tickling him. He began squirming and laughing until he finally grabbed my hands and pulled them together. I kissed his forehead before he hugging me. I stood up and gave them both a sweet smile, "good night, you two. I love you."

I turned off the light before I shut the door. I went out to the table to see Chase had laid out all the food and he was sitting at 1 side eagerly waiting to eat.

I smile towards him, "you didn\'t have to wait."

He gave back a smile while blushing. "I wanted to," he replied before he began digging in to the food. I gingerly made my way through the food and ate only some as the pit of my stomach made me nauseous.

"I\'ve got to tell you something," I whispered and Chase quickly stopped eating. He looked to me with worry. "I\'ve decided to do anything I can to save my friend. And what he needs now more than ever is financial supports that I cannot give him." Chase look to me in confusion as I looked down to the food. "A customer has offered to support him financially if I follow his commands."

Chase shot to his feet with anger, but made sure not to raise his voice so that the kids could sleep. "Why would you do that!"

"Because hes all that I have," I whispered as I looked back up to his eyes and his seemed to soften. "I have him coming over in a few minutes to discuss what he wants me to do in return."

"So are you going to be his Omega or something?"

"I don\'t know," I replied as I looked away from him again. "I have no idea what he wants. All I know is he can save my friend and that\'s all I care about." I took one of his hands in mine and locked eyes again. "But I don\'t want you to worry. I will find a way to make it where you have somewhere safe to go always."

"Come on in," I said quietly before allowing him inside the door and shutting it behind town.

I led him over to the couch in the living room and as we passed him, Chase gave Elijah a menacing glare.

"Do you want something to drink?" I asked as I gestured for him to sit on the couch. He shook his head while still staring at my wound after sitting down.

He then looked over to Chase and smiled slightly, "you must be Chase. Nick has told me a lot about you. It\'s nice to meet you."

Chase glared at him and did not look away until I walked towards him.

"I\'ll clean up. You should go get your homework done. It\'s getting pretty late and we don\'t want you to fail."

Chase looked at me for a moment and realized that I was truly serious, so you finally complied and went back to my bedroom. But he made sure not to shut the door, likely so he could listen in on our conversation.

I went and sat on the ottoman near the couch so that we could look face-to-face. "What in the world happened?"

I sighed as I looked to Elijah before looking away. "I got jumped on my way home last night."

"You should have let me drive you home," Elijah insisted when I look to him with a scowl.

"I don\'t need sympathy. We are here to make a deal and that\'s what I plan to do. I want to make myself clear, I do not wanna be your friend or your mate. I want to save his life and nothing more. With your money, I can finance his medical treatment and I will find someone to be a marrow donor.. So name your conditions," I insisted as he looked me with sadness.