First Of It's Kind

17

(Tayla's POV)

Over the next few days I spent looking into the information from Roman, but I kept running into a dead end. Whoever the company was that provided the bone grafts, was completely gone. Not only that, but we didn't know what the connection was. These men were killed but by who or what? I thought werewolves were really hard to defeat, but this just proved there was someone or something out there that was worse.

Then there was the fact that those men in black were still looking for me. Even if for now it was quiet, I wasn't sure what my next step was. I was driving myself crazy just locked up in this house. I had kept myself busy cleaning but it wasn't a huge place, so cleaning it didn't take much time. It wasn't until a little bit before Christmas did I get a surprise visit.

"Fay, what are you doing here? How did you know where I was?"

"I dragged it out of your brother." For a moment I felt a little unnerved, but then she busted up laughing. She was almost in tears from laughing so hard.

"The look on your face, Tay...I'm so sorry!" She said, holding her side from laughing so much.

I chuckled because she did get me good. I invited her in and she took a seat, still chuckling a little. I took a seat across from her.

"Okay, you got me. But how did you find me?"

"Like I said, I got it from your brother. I can read him like a book. He can't keep much from me, besides that he kinda let it slip."

"How?"

"Okay, I was eardropping a little, he was talking to someone over the phone, and I heard him kinda arguing with them, Logan I think it was."

I groaned and flopped back on the couch.

"So after that you made him tell you."

"You bet your butt, I did! Tay, I've known you for years, and I saw how the death of your mom affected both of you, but you were always strong. I don't believe for a second that that finally got to you."

"That's what my dad said?"

"Yeah, you had a melt down, and all that crap. What really happened?"

"Fay, you won't like it, or might think I'm crazy."

"Tay."

I stood up and went to an open space, scared of what I was about to do.

"Just don't scream, okay?"

"Why would I_"

I called on the change, and it washed over me. It didn't take long. Fay didn't scream but she looked scared out of her mind. I walked up to her slowly, then sat right in front of her. Then, with a trembling hand, she put her hand out and patted my head. I yelped at her, she flinched, but released the breath she was holding. Then chuckled and smiled.

"Tay...you're beautiful!"

I gave her a wolfish grin, and she went a little more pale. Then I walked away and changed again behind the couch, then grabbed my clothes and got dressed. Neither of us said anything until I sat down again.

"So...how?"

I sighed and sat back. I explained about the attack and how I changed for the first time. How according to Roman, Dad nor he called the people that took me. I told her about the lab a little, how I met the girls, how I met Logan and ran into him again three years later.

"Does Logan have a last name?"

"Armstrong."

Fay's face went surprised.

"The Logan Armstrong?"

"Huh?"

"You don't know? Logan Armstrong is the richest man and just by investing money in the right places. He has his fingers in a whole lot of projects and companies. He gives loans and they pay him back. I'm not sure how he does it but he's...Wow, Logan Armstrong."

I sat there not even knowing what to say. Was all that true?

"Can you tell me anything else?"

"Just that he doesn't show his face to the public much, if he does it's maybe once or twice a year. Everyone wonders if he'll ever settle down. The papers have never heard of a girlfriend lasting longer than a year or two."

My hopes dropped.

"So he's never taken a woman seriously?"

"Not really, but you know what they say. That's because he hasn't found the right one yet."

"I guess."

I laid on the couch, now questioning my own existence.

"What's wrong, you ran into each other again, doesn't that count for something?"

"Did I mention he knocked a girl up? His last girlfriend, to be exact."

"He had a girlfriend?"

"Yeah, she's also a model. You might've heard of her. Brielle...I have no idea what her last name is."

"Brielle? You could be talking about Brielle Maxwell, but I never knew she was with him. She bragged about a boyfriend she had but never did they ever go public with their relationship."

"Well, this is a serious situation."

Fay looked at me with a little anger.

"He doesn't have to be with her. He can just pay child support like everyone else..."

"You really think she'll settle for that, she wants the bull, not just the calf. No, I can see her being the type to make him choose, and I'm not going to stand there waiting to see what happens."

Fay looked surprised by my words, but nodded.

"Unless there's a doubt."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning that in the rich people community, there's this law. Because too many kids are left without a home or a family because of gossip. If there's any doubt, the accused has to have concrete proof. A witness is better than anything."

Then Logan's words rang in my head.

"But it's going to take time."

"It does if they can't find them or they refuse to testify."

I groaned. Now I felt stupid. That's why he asked me for time, but with my fear of what Brielle would do, I jumped ship before even knowing what I really had to do.

"Great, so now what?"

"Well, Roman also told me, there was a reason you were keeping a low profile."

"The less you know about that the better," I said, now sitting up.

"Okay, but all I was going to say was, if you want someone's attention, then bring more attention to you."

I looked at Fay, knowing exactly where she was going.

"No!"

"Tay, you're gorgeous, and like I said at the house, you're a fresh face. We can help each other please!"

"Fay, I'll be putting you in danger!"

"It's just going to be pictures, Tay. What more could a photographer and a model have to do with each other?"

"Fay.." I said with a bit of a whine, she just wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Please!" she said with a pouty face and puppy eyes.

I groaned, but I couldn't help seeing her logic.

"Fine, what do I do?"

"Thank you! I'll get things ready, and let you know!"

With a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek, she let me go and headed out the door.

Three days later, she picked me up and we headed to a studio. Or at least that was the first stop. We did a winter theme first. First, I was a sexy snow queen. Then I got to use my ice skating too. Anything that she could think of in the snow we did. I've never been so over make-up, getting my hair done so many times, and all the different clothes. I was so dizzy by the end of it. By the end, I was so hungry we stopped by a restaurant and ate with Roman.

I was scarfing down my food.

"Slow down, you're going to choke!"

"Thank your girlfriend for that!" I retorted back.

"You looked breathing taking in that third, out fit Tay. Fur is definitely your thing."

I glared at her, she had brought in some huskies, and had a cave woman thing.

"I mean look at your eyes, they look...wow!"

She was showing me the picture, and I couldn't help realizing how right she was. The angle and how my eyes were glowing, had a cool effect.

"So what's next?" I asked.

"How do you feel about walking the runway?"

I almost choke.

"Are you serious?" I gasped out.

"Yes, if people like your work, what do you think?"

"Not often, but I guess it would be cool."

"Fay, honey, don't you think you're trying to do too much too fast?"

"Babe, I have the means and I have the connections to get her up there."

"Did you forget what I said? The last thing I need is for a shoot out to happen because of me." I said, going back to eating.

"We'll talk about it. For now you were awesome and if this shoots up!" She squealed happily.

"Just slow down, because if it doesn't...I'd hate to disappoint you."

I wish I had been right about my pictures being disappointing. The week of Christmas, my pictures were everywhere: on TV, the billbroads, and the internet. People wanted to know who I was, and if I was a new model? Others were interested in seeing what agency I was with, and stuff.

" Who is this new beauty that is swiping the nation?"

"Is she even real?"

"That effect on her eyes... Photoshop or real?"

"You're all over the place woman!"

I was flabbergasted. It had taken less then a week for my face to be everywhere.

"Tayla, I've been getting phone calls from other agencies and they want to work with you."

"Huh?"

"A sports magazine, a bathing suite photo shoot, and a clothing shoot."

I was just zoned out. All this was happening too fast.

"Tayla? Tay?"

I looked at Fay, she looked concerned.

"I'll be fine, I'm just taking in how fast all of this happened."

" With the internet nowadays, everything gets out fast."

I was fighting for breath, kinda like when I was heading into a competition.

"Hey, I'm here, and I'll be with you all the way."

Fay put her hand on my shoulder, and I nodded, taking a deep breath.

(Logan's POV)

"Uncle Logan, Tay is on T.V!" I looked at the T.V screen and saw Tayla in a fur coat and the back drop being the snow. She looked so breathtaking.

"Power definitely suits her." commented Maia with a big smile. Darcy was in awe.

"She looks like a princess," Darcy said cheerfully.

I felt a little jealous that my mate's pictures were out there like this, but I guess I had no right.

Soon after, the girls walked in and saw the screen. They were surprised just as much as we were. A cheerful chatter started and I walked out of the house, right as a car parked in the parking lot.

"Brielle?"

"Hey, babe."

"No, what the hell are you doing here?"

She looked taken aback but regained her smile and came over to kiss me, but I moved.

"Well, since we're having a baby, I thought it would be good for us to live in the same house, don't you think?"

"The baby you claim is mine, but I still can't see the proof that it's mine."

" How dare you say that! How dare you insinuate that I'm lying!"

I rolled my eyes. Instead of leaving, she headed inside, and I guess went up to her room. Walker gave me a look, I rubbed my face with my hands. Then headed up to check on Brielle.

Once there, I heard her crying, it sounded so fake, so I didn't even try and walk in to console her. That's what she wanted. I couldn't give her that, not willingly. I sat in Tayla's old room, her scent almost faded. I haven't been sleeping well, or eating. I've tried and I just feel sick when I do. How could I make Tayla understand and be able to have her at my side?