Chapter 16

Chloe's POV

When that word comes out of Beca's mouth, everyone freezes. I study the woman and sure enough, she matches the one in the photo that Beca showed me. Didn't she die in a fire though?

"I-" the woman tries to speak, but nothing comes out. Darren goes beside her, setting his hand on her shoulder.

"Rachel?"

"I thought she was dead. My Rebecca or Beca now I guess." Rachel moves forward, closer to Beca. Cautious of this stranger, I move to where I'm slightly in front of Beca. She touches my arm, letting me know that it's okay. I step aside, allowing Rachel to get closer.

"Is it really you?" Rachel whispers, tears running down her face. Beca just nods and takes out the photo of her mom. Sobbing, Rachel grabs the photo and laughs.

"Where did you get this?"

"I stole it," Beca says quietly, obviously still in shock. "Reed would never let me have it otherwise."

"Reed?" Rachel questions and Beca nods. "He's been raising you this whole time?"

"I don't know if I would call it raising, but yeah. I thought you were dead."

"How about we go inside and discuss this? Maybe get some coffee." Darren suggests and we all nod eagerly. Beca and I walk behind Darren and Rachel.

"Beca? Are you okay?"

"I don't know," Beca whispers, grasping my hand tightly. "I'm so confused right now." She winces a little bit and rubs her temple.

"Is your headache back?"

"Yeah, but it's okay. Just stress." I just make a noise in response, not sure I believe her. "I wonder if Reed knows."

"If he did, he would be out looking for her though, right? He strikes me as someone who can hold a grudge." Beca lets out a laugh and I sigh in relief, glad to know she's still in there.

"He can definitely do that." We collapse into silence, both of us taking everything in. Darren and Rachel lead us to the big house, going in first. It makes sense since he's the alpha that he has this mansion. The inside seems to be bigger which I didn't think was possible. They lead us to the left to a huge, sparkling kitchen. Gail would be so jealous.

"I'll put on some coffee," Darren informs. The rest of us sit at the table. Let the questions begin.

"So I guess I should explain," Rachel grimaces and Beca nods. "Where to even start? I met Reed pretty young and fell stupidly in love. He was an amazing guy or so I thought. Pretty soon after we got married, his true motives came out. My family was really rich and when they all passed away, I inherited everything. Reed wanted to use that money to build his army I guess you could call it."

"The NLSH," I comment and Rachel nods. Beca's hand grips mine tighter and I can tell she's starting to get nervous.

"His family started it a few generations back and he wanted to expand it, make it stronger, crueler. All my family's assets went towards his agenda quicker than I could have ever thought and before I knew it, he was done with me. He wouldn't talk to me, would barely even look. He was so focused on his work and I was done. So, I looked for a way out. I wanted to find a place to call home and with some excuses to occasionally leave, I found this place, found Darren. We fell in love and for a few months, I was happy. Until, Reed found out and came after me. He threatened to kill everyone if I didn't go with him.

"So I left Darren and went back with Reed. He was so angry and forceful with everything." Rachel shudders and I cringe, knowing exactly what she's talking about when she says forceful. A tear falls down Beca's cheek as she realizes what she means too.

"A few nights later, I pissed him off and he got so angry that he kicked me out. I had no idea that after I left that house, he would send someone to kill me because he knew I would go back to Darren. I was halfway there when I was shot in the back. The killer was given orders to bring me back to the house dead so Reed could see my corpse with his own eyes. We didn't make it that far. Darren came with reinforcements and killed Reed's minion. I was dying and one of the pack members offered to turn me."

"I couldn't let you die," Darren whispers, his voice thick with emotion as he sits next to her, setting the mugs down on the table.

"And I didn't want to leave you," Rachel sobs, grabbing Darren's hand. "So I said yes and they turned me right then and there. A few weeks later, I learned I was pregnant." I frown, trying to put together the timeline. Beca just stares with no emotion, trying to process everything. Me on the other hand, am picking everything apart, trying to put things together. So Rachel was pregnant before being a vampire but not much longer. A human/vampire hybrid doesn't happen often so I don't know how it all works but it makes sense as to why Beca doesn't need blood and why she's aged up to how old she is now.

"Several months later, I had you," Rachel says softly as I tune back in. "For a few weeks, I got to love you until I went into town alone. Darren told me to wait but I wanted to get out, show you a little bit of the world. Reed and his men were looking for me and when they found me, I was taken back to the house where I was chained up. Reed took you from me which was the last time I saw you. After a few hours, he came into the room with a bloody blanket. I could just tell it was yours. I thought that he killed my baby and I was devastated. He lit a match and then left after setting the house on fire. Luckily, Darren knew that I was captured and came to my rescue. The rest is history. I've been here, thinking you were dead and Reed thought I was as well."

"That's insane," I blurt out, since no one seems to know what to say. Beca is now staring past her mother, out the window. The way she's acting is freaking me out a little. Beca is the type of person to push through things, no matter what they are. The fact that she's acting like this is concerning.

"I-I need a minute," Beca suddenly says, standing up. "Where's your bathroom?" Darren points and Beca takes off. For a second I sit there but pretty soon, I get too worried and follow her. The door is closed and I knock softly on it.

"Becs? Baby, are you okay?" I get no answer so I turn the knob, sighing in relief when it turns. The door creaks a little as I open it and what I find, breaks my heart. Beca is on her knees, leaning over the toilet. Her chest heaves with sobs that she's trying to hold in. Shutting the door behind me, I go on my knees next to her.

"Hey, it's okay." The moment I place my hand on Beca's back, she flings herself towards me and starts to sob loudly. A few tears fall down my face in response to her heartbreak and I wrap my arms around her.

"Beca, I'm so sorry. Just let it all out." So she does. After a few minutes, she quiets down. Her arms are wrapped around my waist, holding on tight as though she's afraid I'll disappear.

"I've lived my whole life with that monster when my mother was just an hour away. She's alive, Chlo and I have no idea what to do or how to feel."

"I know this is shocking and I can't imagine the confusion, but I would take it as a blessing. Your mom is alive Beca. This is a second chance for you guys to get to know each other and be a family again. It won't necessarily be easy and will probably be awkward at first, but just think about how amazing it will be in the end."

"You're right," Beca sighs. "It was just so devastating thinking about what could've been. What do you think she'll think of me when she learns that I'm an NLSH agent?"

"I think that she'll accept it. I mean, you weren't really given an option. Honestly, she'll understand because she was sort of in the same situation when he dragged her back the first time."

"Once again, you are right."

"I'm always right," I laugh and Beca joins in. "On a side note, how cool is it that she's a vampire and he's a werewolf, but they're still together?"

"It's awesome. Means we aren't the only ones who are okay with being different and being together."

"We aren't that different," I point out and Beca shrugs. "You just don't want to admit I'm right again."

"Uh, no. I just couldn't think of what to say," Beca insists, jokingly and finally lets go of me.

"Ready to go back out there?" At my question, Beca shakes her head in panic. "That's okay. I'm going to let them know you're okay and you come join us whenever you're ready."

"Okay. Thank you." Beca's gray eyes stare at me with an intensity I can barely handle. I can't help but kiss her and for a minute, we get lost in each other. Eventually though, I know we have to get back to them so I stand up and kiss Beca on the head before leaving her. I walk slowly, trying to process everything myself and hating that I left Beca alone. She needs a second to herself though to think through everything.

"So she has no idea?" Darren says, unaware that I am now around the corner to the kitchen. I pause, curious about what they're talking about.

"I don't think so based on what she said earlier and I'm not sure we should tell her just yet."

"So you're ashamed? Is that it?" Darren's voice, while angry, comes out in a hushed whisper.

"Not at all. She just learned that I'm still alive. I don't want to overload her."

"What if she finds out the truth on her own? She'll be pissed off that we didn't tell her." What the hell are they talking about? I rack my brain trying to think, but nothing is coming to mind. Unfortunately, Beca comes out of the bathroom and doesn't care to be quiet since she has no idea that they were talking about her. She gives me a strange look to which I just shrug and finally go into the kitchen.

"Hey," Rachel says softly, studying Beca who cleaned up considerably well for someone who just bawled their eyes out. I'm kind of jealous. I could never collect myself so quickly.

"Hey," Beca's voice cracks, which gives away just how upset she is. She sits down, pulling me down beside her. For a second, everyone just looks at each other until finally Beca speaks.

"Well this is awkward. Okay, let's get started on figuring out what the hell our plan is."