Second Chances

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven: Tallulah’s Arrival

April 7, 2011

For the first time, I found myself asleep in my own bed. It was softer than I’d remembered, because it’d been awhile since I’d slept there. So, of course, I was pissed when I was roused from my slumber by the shouts of two women.

Groaning, I pushed myself off of the marshmallow cloud that was my mattress. After pulling on some pants, I lumbered down the stairs and into the kitchen.

At this point in time, the house was devoid of any testosterone other than me at this point, with Wyatt out doing his Beta business. So it was a catfight. Sort of. More like a half dog fight with a little human thrown in there…

Anyways, it wasn’t pretty. Then again, situations with Becky never seemed to be. This is how it went down. Becky was shouting at Leigh, while Della did her best to hold my crazy sister back. On the other side stood Leigh, her arms crossed tightly, her lips pursed in distaste. Behind her, Vera was leaning against the island with a cup of coffee in her hand. She glanced up and greeted me with wide eyes filled with surprise.

Becky knew what had happened last night.

“You stupid whore!” shouted my little sister. “You fucking bitch, what the hell were you thinking?”

First off, Becky was being a little excessive with the amount of swearing she was currently doing. Second, Becky didn’t really have any solid proof of what went down did she?

“What the hell is wrong with you, Rebecca?” sneered Leigh. “Shouting at people? Aren’t you the lady of the house, since Ian killed Brittanie?”

My heart stopped at the mention of the night I lost everything.

“He’s sided with the rogue, Raphael,” Leigh went on. “The one you slept with, wasn’t it? Your virginity?”

That was a low blow to Becky. So much so, Della let my little sister go. Becky pounced on Leigh, not giving a damn that Leigh was 100% human and could die. And I would’ve possibly let her have killed Leigh, still rooted to the ground in shock, when Wyatt came into the room with Tallulah on his heels.

Tallulah had changed in the past few years, that much was obvious. She was now confident as not just a leader, but as a woman. Her brown hair had grown out, and her eyes were piercing and cool as they took in the scene.

Vera hissed at the appearance of the other woman. The blonde was fuming from her side of the kitchen, watching in distaste as Tallulah pulled Becky away with ease. Leigh somehow remained unscathed, with her skin smooth and flawless as ever.

But I knew Becky, and Becky was known to be violent and claw at someone’s face. So I looked to my sister, and down to her hands. There, beneath her fingernails was something that puzzled me beyond belief. Skin clung to the underside of her nails, and blood dripped from the tips.

In shock, I spared yet another glance at Leigh to make sure it wasn’t my grogginess obscuring my vision. Still, Leigh was in perfect condition.

“Hello, Montgomery,” greeted Tallulah with all the grace I was currently unable to muster up.

“Braxton,” I managed to say back at her. She seemed amused by the whole ordeal, even though I pitied Becky at the moment, but (sort of) understood why Leigh wasn’t necessarily to blame in the beginning.

“Why did your sister attack my liaison?” she demanded, trying to seem worried and pissed off. But her eyes still told me something else. It was as if she didn’t care whether or not Leigh was hurt.

“How the hell am I supposed to?” I got out.  

Tallulah cocked a brow, but it was like she already knew the answer and wanted my confirmation. “Whatever. When can we set up a meeting with the Elders.”

Leigh’s expression hardened into a mask of stone at the mention of the old and crazy psychics. “I don’t have to be there, do I, Lu?”

Lu? mouthed Vera in my direction. I shrugged – just two friends that had nicknames for each other. Brittanie had called Becky “Becks” and Becky had called Brittanie “Britt-Britt”. Hadn’t Todd called Vera “Wang” just because there was a designer named Vera Wang?

“Yes, B-“ Tallulah stopped herself, and Leigh’s eyes widened slightly in fear. “Yes you do, babes.”

Leigh calmed down visibly, but I wondered if she was mentally shaken at all. “When?”

“You’re the liaison,” Tallulah reminded the brown-eyed blonde. “Go get us a time.”

Leigh nodded sharply, standing up off the ground. She brushed herself of dust – though, Vera kept the whole house impeccably clean – and skirted past me.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly, so only she could hear.

“Don’t try and fucking be nice to me,” she hissed. “Listen to Tallulah.”

But why the hell would I want to listen to Tallulah? What was with this girl, basically jumping me in the forest then getting all pissy at me for no apparent reason?

And Leigh was gone.

She left an awkward silence, which held a staring contest between Vera and Tallulah. To break it, Becky said through gritted teeth, “Let’s take this to the patio. Vera, bring us breakfast.”

Vera mumbled, “I’m not your fucking maid,” but went onto do what Becky had asked. While she prepared the quickie breakfast, Wyatt and I followed Tallulah and Becky outside.

The sun was shining bright, and it felt like I had a hangover at how shitty I currently felt.

“Nice to see you again, Alpha Braxton,” said Wyatt, glaring at Becky.

“Mr. Barclay,” Tallulah coldly replied. “So, Lucas, how has Leigh been?”

Becky opened her mouth to bash the blonde girl, but I quickly said, “She’s been great.”

“’Cause she’s willing to spread her legs,” muttered Becky.

“I don’t think we want another mention of some of the things Leigh said about you, Rebecca,” I hissed, turning to face Tallulah. “Anyways, she’s… Something.”

Tallulah snorted under her breath, and another awkward silence fell upon us until Vera set a plate before us.