11.

**Rosaline**

I woke to the sound of Eva calling out to me. She was sitting beside me on the bed shaking me awake. "What is it?" I asked.

"It's 6.30," she said smirking. I rolled my eyes snuggling deeper under my blanket then the time she told me registered I immediately shot up throwing back the covers and grabbing my bathrobe and clothes for work then rushing off to the bathroom. How in the world did I oversleep? Taking a quick shower and dressing quickly I ran back to the room. Eva was sitting on her bed hands clasped with a phone beside her.

"Where did you get that?" I squealed rushing to pick it up. An iPhone? "Eva, how did you afford a phone like this?" I asked again.

"The same place where you got yours from" she answered gesturing to my bed.

Confused, I turned to see a department store bag on it. Opening it I saw another iPhone 6 but gold with my name on a post-it.

"Who would give us these?" I asked going through the phone cautiously.

Unconsciously I went to the contact list, the first name I read caused me to drop the phone.

"Take it back. I don't care how you do it but you need to do it." I shouted at her grabbing my knapsack.

How can she easily accept expensive gifts from that playboy? How dare he, to actually send it when I explicitly told him I wasn't interested, doesn't anyone stay true to their word.

Wait. How did she get them from him?

"He didn't return to the shop. How was he able to deliver these?" I asked.

"His beta delivered them," Eva said calmly while giving me a small smile getting her knapsack.

What's a beta?

I stood confused by her words, watching her, she moved with ease, my anger usually annoys her and she snaps back at me all the time.

"What is with you? Are you still mad that I didn't believe your fairy tale?" I asked folding my arms.

Her body went rigid then she released a deep breath, "No I am not mad. It's not a fairy tale and I'm just doing my job that I was given five years ago. Are you coming we have work in a few" she said in a monotone voice pocketing the shiny new phone.

She got me more confused, I hesitated in taking the phone or not.

"No. I won't lead him on. He needs to know that I cannot be bought. I don't want him," I said to myself and left the bag with the phone on my bed.

Eva stood waiting for me outside and allowed me to lead the way to the bus stop when I was near.

"What's a beta?" I asked breaking our silence in the bus.

"A beta is an alpha's second in command. Someone he trusts not only with his life but his pack's."

"Pack? Alpha? Are you still referring to the story Eva? Please cut it out. It's becoming really annoying." Why all of a sudden she has become so keen on bringing those myths to life? That's all it was.

"It's my duty to educate you of my people. I cannot tell you the reason why but I must. You thinking our history is a myth is somewhat pissing me off and hurting at the same time so sorry if I am blunt about this in what I'm about to say. Open your eyes Rosa look around you. Everything isn't what it seems and stop being close-minded because it can kill someone who truly wants to love you" she said in a harsh whisper before turning to look out the window.

Eva, never in the times I have known her have spoken to me like that with so much underlying anger. We stayed in uncomfortable silence as the bus neared our stop.

We started our morning on a sour note and I knew it would continue that way. The cappuccino maker went on a fritz, the WiFi connection went down and I had a few irate customers.

It was around lunch and surprisingly the shop was empty except for three patrons, two sat together chatting while the other was reading a paper. Mrs. Winchester decided to take that time to run some errands leaving Eva and myself alone.

We still haven't said a word to each other only when it was pertaining to orders. I was sitting behind the register when three persons came in and stood before me.

The woman who stood between the two green-eyed men smiled serenely at me. She was dressed in a white fitted dress and a black LV ankle boots she screamed of money even though her jewelry was subtle. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back and her striking green eyes were solely focused on me.

"Welcome to Miz Stacy C-Can I help you?" I asked. Why was I so nervous?

The men on both her sides had the same striking green eyes, the younger of the two leaned his head slightly and looked at me with a small smile, his jet black hair was kept short and he rocked a scruffy beard it all screamed 'sexy'. They all looked so perfect.

"Yes, Rosaline you can. Would you mind joining me for a cup of coffee?" she asked.

"What? Excuse me? How did you know my name?" I asked folding my arms.

I felt Eva come beside me, she smiled at the three and bowed her head slightly in greeting. "Ah, Eva. It's nice to meet you. Micah's men told me of you." The lady said to my friend.

"It is an honor to meet you also, ma'am." She answered keeping her head bowed. I looked around them to see the other three patrons stood in different corners of the room surveying the shop.

"Okay, what is this?" I asked abruptly. I didn't mean to sound rude but it all was weird.

Eva took a deep breath and raised her head.

"Rosaline. I would like you to meet Caiden's mother, Mrs. Emma Saville. His younger brother, Angelo Saville, and his uncle, Caleb Ellis." She said nodding to them respectively.

"O-kay but how do you know these people? They are certainly not in our circle." I said taking in the way they held themselves almost regal-like.

She looked at the woman whom she called Emma then nodded after a few moments.

"To us, they are the ones we look to for support and protection" she answered smiling at them.

Here she goes again, pinching the bridge of my nose I released a frustrated sigh.

"Look, I am in no mood for that story again and no offense ma'am and sirs I have told Caiden to leave me alone. For him to be sending his family is beyond foolish because I don't want any dealings with him. Tell him he's wasting his time and that I would be returning his gift" I said coldly.

His mother took a deep breath while Caleb squeezed her shoulder in an affectionate way, "My son hasn't sent us my dear. At the moment he's.... he's...." she said looking for words to finish her sentence.

"Sick" Caleb said abruptly.

Sick? He was fine yesterday when I saw him what could have happened between then and now. I found myself feeling worried about him. But why?

"Eva, can you please excuse us? It'll be alright, my dear" Emma said dismissing her.

"Yes ma'am," she answered bowing her head again before leaving.

"Please. We would like to talk to you" Caleb said firmly.

Unconsciously I turned to Angelo, his green eyes were so hypnotizing before I knew it, I heard myself saying "okay" before following them to a table for four.

Emma sat while the men opted to stand on either side of her. "I must say you are truly a vision and a very suiting name" she began.

While I waited for her to continue, I wondered how she did it, looking so young and the mother of two grown sons.

"I will get straight to the point. Word has it that Eva has told you about our history. Our forefather Castio St Leon..." she continued.

I was about to protest but the urge to say nothing overwhelmed me.

"The story she has told you has been proven true for centuries after all we are living proof. As a human, it is up to you to believe in the myths people have been saying about us or not. The reason I came here is out of love for my son. Some things are hard to explain because you still do not believe, it would be easier if you are open to learning new things in this world of yours.

"Eva has been by your side for a purpose. Your mind may have thousands of why? How? What? When? After we reveal to you what we have to, we shall be there to answer. I have to get back to Cay. I would like both of you to be my guests for dinner tonight at the house. I won't take no for an answer. A car will be here awaiting you when you finish work. There's no dress code as it would be just family. It would be hard to accept it all but we have to tell you this.

"Speed things up. Caiden needs you by his side more than you know. Please come with an open mind. Sorry for the intrusion. I just wish we could have met in an easier way," she said.

I couldn't say anything. Here was someone else telling me of Eva's story with a straight face and asking me to come dinner with an open mind. I was getting tired of it all and want it all to end.

"I shall listen to y'all about your 'background' after then I can know if what you all say is true or not. Is that fine? Because all of this needs to stop" I said gesturing to them.

She nodded and stood from her seat.

"Boys let's go" she called out. The three patrons from earlier calmly came by her side and bowed. What is it with people bowing to her, I get that she's beautiful but damn.

"See you tonight," Caleb said smiling at me. It was the same teasing smile Caiden does. It can be a family thing that caused me to look at Angelo he hasn't said a word but kept his gaze on me.

"Looking forward to seeing you tonight sweetie," Emma said kissing my cheek.

As quickly as they arrived the same route they took to leave, courteous nods came my way as they passed.

"Tonight is gonna be something," I heard Eva saying behind me.

What in the world does that mean?