Chapter 6: Burning House of Love

The next morning, I woke up slowly and I laid in bed a little longer. My eyes felt heavy from crying most of the night. While my heart still felt heavy, my head was surprisingly clear. I honestly just wanted to stay in bed, but I could practically hear my Gran's voice scolding me for it. She always reminded me of my responsibilities and not to be lazy about it. I had to smile at the thought of her scolding me.

My nose twitched at the smell of food coming from downstairs and my stomach growled loudly in response. I sighed, realizing that staying in bed wasn't an option. Slowly, I climbed out of bed and got dressed in some jean shorts that went to mid-thigh and a light blue t-shirt. Pulling on some tan sandals, I left my room and went downstairs.

I walked into the large dining room that was connected to the kitchen, to see both Georgette and Isleen flitting about cooking. On the island in the middle of the kitchen already had several plates of food on it. Sitting in two of the bar stools, Zander and Ciro had their backs to me, watching their mates cooking.

I had to take a moment to admire the simple setting. With so many wolves that came in and out of this house, I tried to give the house a homey feeling to help those that came to me. Georgette and Isleen were usually the ones that helped with the cooking and with making the wolves feel comfortable. Georgette, as an empath, could not only feel another's emotions, but influence them as well. She doesn't like to do that at all, only using it when someone is panicked when they come here.

Zander and Ciro were usually there as my advisors, but also there as friends to those who came through. Zander and Georgette would help me with the older wolves that came through for advice or other business. Isleen and Ciro usually helped with the younger wolves that came through for guidance.

"Aren't the college students supposed to be at college?" I asked from the doorway and making the four of them jump. They all turned to me in shock that I was awake. "I expected my brother and sister to be here, but not the ones that are still in college."

Isleen smiled at me. "We called our professors and explained that we had a death in the family and needed some time off. They all gave us work to do so we don't fall behind, but other than that, we're here to help out."

I smiled gratefully at her and moved to sit in between my brother and Ciro. Zander put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a brief hug. Ciro put his hand on my back and rubbed it in circles for comfort.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Ciro asked with sympathy and worry. Both Georgette and Isleen began to fill my plate with some food while glancing over in concern for my response.

I knew that my whole pack was worried about me. I had been catatonic since we found her, barely showing any emotion, and when I did, it was either anger or tinged with sadness. "I'm done crying at least," I told them honestly. "My heart still hurts, but I can't keep hiding forever. Gran will never rest if I don't keep moving on."

Both of the boys patted my back with relieved smiles while I dug into the food in front of me. For the next few hours, the four of them kept me company before I had to leave to get my uniform for work tonight.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I walked up to the house that was now Sookie's. While we had been cleaning up, Sookie and I had discussed that she still wanted me to live in the house and I agreed. With the psycho that killed our Gran still out there, I didn't want to leave her alone. I told her about having one of my pack with her at all times during the day. She understood where I was coming from and had agreed to it.

I opened the door, realizing that it was unlocked, and frowned slightly. Walking inside and closing the door, I locked it and turned to look for Sookie. "Sookie!" I called.

I heard her calling from upstairs in her room and headed in that direction. Entering her bedroom, I saw that she was still getting ready for work tonight. "How are you feeling Sookie?" I asked.

She turned around and smiled at me. "Actually, I feel great!"

I smelled the air, smelling another scent around her. Walking over, I got a closer smell, and she looked at me in confusion, but didn't question it. Her personal scent itself had changed, and Bill's scent of gunpowder and earth was all over her. I looked her over and noticed the red bite marks on her neck. "So, that's what you were doing last night," I smirked at her and gestured to her neck.

She blushed bright red and slapped a hand over her neck. "I completely forgot about that," she panicked. "Someone's gonna say something! Are you okay with this?"

"You are a grown woman Sookie," I told her. "I'm not about to rule your life with what I want for you. I just want you to be careful. I already have lost Gran and I won't lose you too. And come to my room when you're done, I might have something that you can use to cover those marks."

I walked to my room and proceeded to get ready for work. As I was finishing my makeup, Sookie knocked on the door and I called for her to come in. I wordlessly handed her a small green and white scarf. Finishing the last swipe of mascara, I looked at her in the mirror. "Tie that around your neck," I instructed. "But I do want that back."

"Thank you Teddy," she said with a smile. "I really appreciate this."

*Queen of the Wolves*

That night, work was a little slow, until we started to get busy later. I was coming back to the window to get more of my orders. I smiled at Lafayette, and he returned it, but his eyes jumped over my shoulder. In an instant, his smile faded at whatever he was seeing, and I turned around to see Royce and his two friends walk in. I remember Lafayette telling me about what Royce had said about him and what happened after. I was honestly surprised that the three rednecks were able to show their faces here. Either they were brave or very stupid, I think that it was the latter though.

Sam also saw them walk in and take one of the tables. After what happened, I didn't try to stop Lafayette as he left the kitchen. Sam steps in front of him with a handout to stop him. "Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Sam vocalized. "I'm payin' you to cook, not beat on customers."

"Then I want a motherfucking raise," Lafayette snapped back, taking another look at the rednecks.

"I'll think about it, but 'til then, no trouble," Sam replied. "Okay, we're gettin' busy."

Terry walked over with a box in his arms. "Tara called," he informed Sam. "She ain't comin' in."

Terry walked into the back, and Sam looked stressed. "What? Aww… hell, we're already short a waitress," he complained.

I went over to pat his arm in comfort as Sookie walked back over to the window. "Don't worry, Sam," she encouraged. "We'll make it work."

I fought back a frown at how peppy she was being. I knew why she was so happy, but I had mentioned, on the way over, that she should reign it in a little bit. Others might have a different reaction to her sleeping with a vampire than I did. Sam, especially, would have a very bad reaction. I guess that she didn't listen, as usual.

Lafayette shared a surprised look with Sam, before smirking and leaned against the wall to face Sookie. "Well, goddamn!" he said. "Look at 'chew! All pornalicious." Sookie turned around to give him a bright smile. "What kind of crazy mix you done and got yourself into?"

"Can't I just be in a good mood without it bein' a big deal?" she countered, trying to play it off. "It's a pretty night outside, and I'm glad to be enjoyin' it with my friends and family."

With that, she took her orders and walked off. Lafayette hummed as she passed us, and I nudged him. He looked at me in question and I nodded towards the kitchen with a smirk. "We need your sexy ass back in the kitchen Chocolate Thunder," I told him. "Get back there."

"I'm goin,' I'm goin'," he grumbled with a smirk on his face.

As he walked back, I went to grab my orders, and Sam grabbed my arm. "Do you know why she's like that?" he asked me quietly.

"Don't ask me that," I responded with a shake of my head. Sam furrowed his brow in confusion. "I don't wanna lie to my boss." I used that to move back into the crowd to give out my orders.

While I was taking my break in the kitchen, I watched Lafayette heat up a spoon over an open flame on the stove. He wore a heavy black glove as he took the spoon from the flame and put it in a bowl of gumbo sitting in the kitchen window. The spoon was so hot that it created steam from the gumbo. Terry turned upon hearing the sizzle and Lafayette smiled wickedly as he took the glove off. "Terry," Lafayette cooed. "Can you run that to them crackers, please?"

Terry smiled shyly and grabbed the bowl of the window. "Sure thing."

"Thank you so much," Lafayette purred.

I giggled and Lafayette turned to me with a giant smirk. "You bad LaLa. Funny, but oh so bad."

"Of course, White Lightning," he laughed. "You wouldn't have me any other way."

I rolled my eyes with a large smile. I then spotted Bryson, Aberdeen, and Drystan walking in through the front door. My smile became a grin as I ran out of the kitchen and practically tackled Bryson in a hug. I greeted both Aberdeen and Drystan the same way. It was rare that anyone from my pack to come into the bar I worked at. It usually only happens when we have a visiting wolf, in order to show them that we can still be a part of society.

"What brings you in tonight?" I asked as they sat at one of my tables.

"We need to talk about something when you're done with work," Bryson told me seriously. I raised an eyebrow at that, but Bryson just pushed me back to work. It was then that Royce stood up cursing as he dropped the spoon that Lafayette heated up. I laughed at little and went back to work.

A few minutes later, I was delivering food to my pack when I heard Sookie yelling. I quickly spun around to see that Sam had ripped off her scarf and saw the bite marks on her neck.

"You're a damn fool, you know that?!" he thew at her. The whole bar went silent at that and turned to look at the two of them.

"What I do on my own time is no concern of yours," she snapped, and looked around the bar. "Or any of y'alls. Yes, I had sex with Bill, and since every one of y'all's too chicken to ask, it was great. I enjoyed every second of it. And if you don't like that, you can just fire me!"

She shoved her tray into Sam's chest and stormed off. The whole bar started to talk again, and I went over to Sam, grabbing my scarf from his hand. Sam stopped me from leaving with a hand on my arm, but I just sent him an icy glare, which made him back down. I went back to my tables as everyone started to talk about what just happened.

*Queen of the Wolves*

I was behind the bar getting a pitcher of beer when three vampires walked into the bar. Everyone went quiet and stared, and I noticed that Sookie tensed with a look of recognition. I realized that these must be the same vampires that were at Bill's place. It made my blood boil at the memory. The one with a small beard, Malcolm, stepped up to the bar, while the bald one, Liam, stood by the door with his thumbs in his pockets. The woman, Diane, went walking right up to my pack's booth and singled out Drystan.

"Well, hey there, sugar," she purred.

Drystan simply gave her a black stare, but his eyes flashed over to me. I shook my head once, and Drystan's eyes gave me a reluctant look. I knew that he wanted to shove her off, but we couldn't let them know there was a pack in the area. We couldn't really expose ourselves in public either.

"Get us three Tru Bloods," Malcolm ordered to Sam as he walked over from the pool table.

"Y'all need to find somewhere else," Sam said in a hostile tone. "This is a family place. Locals only."

"Well, we just closed on a place up the road, so that makes us official citizens of Renard Parish," Malcolm explained with fake enthusiasm. "We're the new locals."

"My place, my rules," Sam kept up.

"Discrimination against vampires is punishable by law in the great state of Louisiana," Malcolm deadpanned and looked around with a sneer. "Personally, I don't give a fuck. But…I…am…thirsty."

"You…are…not…welcome here," Sam emphasized.

Diane chuckled from where she leaned against the booth. She was running her hands through Drystan's hair, and he had an uncomfortable look on his face. "That shit only works in a private home."

Malcolm then turned around to see Sookie and gasped dramatically. "Oh! How nice to see you again Sookie. You are looking delectable as always."

He started to amble towards her, and I noticed Diane abandoned trying to scare Drystan with a low growl. I slowly made my way from behind the bar towards Sookie, not wanting the dead leech to be anywhere near my cousin.

"You know them?" Sam demanded Sookie.

"We've met," she replied, not taking her eyes off of Malcolm. I was almost to her.

"Well, well!" Malcolm said with fake surprise as he spotted the fang marks on Sookie's neck. "It looks like Little Miss Holdout has given up the goods. Brava! Did he leave enough for the rest of us?"

"I am his," Sookie hissed.

'Almost there.'

"Well, he is not here, is he?" Malcolm said condescendingly. "And while Bill's away, Malcolm will always play."

I heard his fangs click down before I sped to get between them. I risked a portion of my strength to shove the vampire away. Malcolm landed next to the bar edge, and looked angry before it was replaced by interest as he stared at me. "Keep away from my family," I growled out.

Malcolm held an arm out to stop Liam and Diane, while looking at me up and down with a smirk growing. "Now, what are you?" he purred.

At that point, Bryson, Aberdeen, and Drystan jumped up from the booth. The vampires looked over at them in surprise.

"Jihad this, motherfucker!" Terry yelled as he ran up from the back towards Malcolm. Diane grabbed him and threw him across the room, where he landed on his back in front of the pool table. Sam used the distraction to break one of the pool sticks over his knee. He handed one end to Bryson, who then tossed it to me. I knew that he was wanting to rip them up with his bare hands, but I was the one to make a move, so I would deal with them.

"I'd rather not kill you just yet," Malcolm said, pointing to me, but then he turned to point at Sam. "However, you are a dead man."

"Maybe," Sam admitted, and pointed the broken pool stick at Malcolm. "But I'm gonna take one of y'all with me."

Sam tried to run at Malcolm, but Liam got in the way. He made Sam throw the broken stick behind the bar and pinned Sam by grabbing his chin. Drystan broke another pool stick and stabbed Diane's shoulder form behind, while I rushed over and put my stick in Liam's lower back. He roared in pain, turning to me, only to be punched. The sound of bone breaking echoed through the quiet bar, and a few people gasped.

Suddenly, Bill came running through the door. "Stop this! Now!"

Liam stood, ripping out the stick in his back and fixing his jaw, growling at me. Malcolm rushed over to hold him back and smirked over his shoulder at me.

"I said stop," Bill reiterated, stepping in between us. "You're here for me, not them."

"We had to get you attention, and I do believe it worked," Malcolm pointed out.

Bill sighed. "What do you want?" he demanded.

"You never called me back," Malcolm said with a fake whine. "Now, if I remembered what feelings were, mine might be hurt."

Diane pulled out the pool stick and gave a low growl at Drystan, who glared back. She then came rushing over, rubbing against him like a cat in heat. "Join our nest Bill," she purred. "Forget these blood sacks."

"Yeah, mainstreaming's for pussies," Liam growled.

"You mean like you," I snapped, and Liam growled making a move towards me. Malcolm held him back again.

Ignoring me, Diane put her arm around Bill and ran a her fingers through his hair. "Let's party like we used to, huh? We used to have so much fun."

Bill's face was downcast as his eyes glanced between Sookie and me. I could tell that he wasn't wanting to do what he was going to do. "All right," he said, slightly reluctantly. "Let's go."

Sookie rushed forward, but I went and held her back. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded with hurt in her voice.

"I should be with my own," Bill reasoned.

"But you're not like them," Sookie pleaded. "You're better than they will ever be!"

Bill stepped forward. "I am not human, Sookie. I am vampire."

Bill and Sookie shared a long stare, as Diane and Liam left. Bill looked over to meet my eyes, a pleading look in them. I nodded slightly as he turned to leave with Malcolm right behind him. Malcolm turned around to give me another once over before he smirked and left. I glanced around as everyone looked at me, still shocked at my actions. 'Well shit," I thought.

As everyone started to talk again, Bryson ushered Aberdeen, Drystan, and I outside. The vampires were gone, and we were away from prying eyes. Bryson turned to me with a small frown. "What was that?" he asked cautiously.

My adrenaline was still pumping, so my anger was more easily triggered. I growled at him and my eyes flashed silver. "I was not about to let my family get hurt."

"Yeah, but it could have exposed us to not only the humans inside, but the vampires as well," Drystan argued. "You saw how interested he was in you."

"Well, as long as we keep cool and play off my abilities, the people inside will gossip for a little bit before forgetting about it," I explained. "As for the vampires, if they become a problem, then we'll deal with it if it comes up."

It was then that Sookie came out of the bar looking panicked. "Teddy! Royce and his friends are talking about going after the vampires! We have to stop them!"

I looked at her with sympathy. "Sookie, do you even know where the house is? Even if we could find it, dawn is coming soon, and he wouldn't be able to get anywhere before having to go to ground."

"But we can't do nothing!" she shouted at me.

I grasped her shoulders. "Sookie, take a breath. Try calling him and warn him."

Sookie took a breath to ground herself, and then pulled out her phone. She called a couple of times and left two messages. She called one more time, more panicked this time and left yet another message. "Bill, this is the third time I've called," she said desperately. "A lynch mob is going after those vampires. You gotta get outta there. Call me back, now!"

She looks at her phone before closing it and looking at me with panic in her eyes. I gave her a sympathetic smile before giving her a tight hug. "Go back inside and focus on finishing your shift," I told her as we separated. She nodded at me and wiped her eyes with a deep breath. As Sookie walked back inside, I turned to the others. "Go back and explain what happened. We'll figure out what to do in the morning."

"As long as you come back to the house," Bryson compromised. "You know that Sookie will go over to Bill's, and you'll be alone in the house."

I sighed at his protectiveness but nodded anyway. We went our separate ways, them to their car and me back inside. The next few hours were filled with stares from the locals and me trying to keep my anger in check. I was getting more annoyed as the night wore on.

I was up at the bar to get more drinks and took a breath. Sam then leaned over and put a hand on my arm. Meeting his blue eyes, he gave me a kind smile. "Don't worry about them," he told me. "Do you wanna take off? You seem like you could use the time off."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Are you sure I can do that Sam? You'd be short staffed for a few hours."

"We can handle it," he insisted. "You go and relax for a little bit. You have tomorrow off anyway. Besides, you're brother will be stomping in here after he finds out what happened. It would be best for my bar if that happened at your house."

Chuckling softly at his reasoning, I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Sam."

*Queen of the Wolves*

After leaving work, I walked into my house in the very early morning and was met by my fuming brother. Zander stood just inside the door with his arms crossed and looking pissed off. "What the hell were you thinking?" he growled. "You could have exposed us and yourself tonight. The vampires could still talk, and then we will have to take drastic measures."

With the night that I had, between the vampires and the locals, my nerves were frayed, and I was on edge. My eyes glowed silver and I let out an almighty feral growl that rattled the house. Zander took a step back and his arms fell to his sides. "Don't talk to me about what we will have to do Zander," I growled out. "I did for my family what I would do for anyone in my pack or kind. I wouldn't let them get away with threatening or harming my family."

I noticed that the others of my pack were peaking in from the top of the stairs and the other rooms around the front. I turned back to Zander, who looked at me with an understanding look, but worried eyes, and I let my eyes return to their emerald green. "I appreciate the concern, but we don't have to worry about it right now. I have had a long night and would like to get some sleep. We will discuss what to do when the sun is up."

With that, I passed everyone on the stairs and went to my room. Stripping out of my work clothes, I threw on one of my large black t-shirts and just slid into bed. It took a little bit to fall asleep, but I eventually slipped into dream land.