14.

**Rosaline**

It has been another long day at the shop which was good, it kept my mind from thinking about him. Though I hate to admit I miss him and I'm willing to open up myself once again to a guy of his social status but I'm scared. Angelo's words of encouragement have stuck to me I'm no longer skeptical of trusting his brother even it's a tiny bit. Eva has been quiet for the past few days even after I apologized to her but I couldn't be bothered for her mood swings. I had too much on my plate at the moment.

"Goodnight Mrs. Winchester, see you tomorrow" I called out to her as we made our way out the door. Eva rushed past me as I struggled to get my earphones out of my bag. Walking out blindly I bumped into her, looking up she was frozen to the spot "What is wrong with you?" I grumbled stepping around her.

"Goodnight Rosaline." That voice has haunted my dreams for the past few nights whispering words of love to me. Standing beside a sleek black car, dressed in basketball shorts, and a t-shirt he looked all kinds of sexy to me. "Caiden," I said unconsciously stepping towards him.

"How are you?" he asked softly his grey eyes holding my gaze. It was only him I can see, I can hear the busy surrounding around us disappear.

"I'm good, and you?" I asked.

A frown marred his face for a moment then a bright smile lit up his face, that small-expression sent my heart racing. "I'm better now. I came to apologize for my actions and absence. I was too forward and it was stupid of me to think that you would be mine instantly." He said stepping towards me till I had to look up to his handsome face. Regret and disappointment flashed across his face, oh how I wanted to take away those negative emotions.

I nodded dumbfoundedly, " I.. Your family explained it to me. I... I somewhat understand and willing to... Ummm... give it a try?" I said softly. Talking to him made my nerves go on a fritz, he affected me so much more now than the past few days.

"You will?" he asked truly surprised. Just by my agreement his face lit up, his eyes shone brighter and the happiness was evident, biting my lip I shyly nodded. In one move he gathered me up in his arms and spun me around, his laughter reached my ears and touched my heart, it was so warm and carefree. "Thank you, Rosaline," he said kissing my cheek as he put me down. I blushed at the innocent kiss he gave me, it was a simple gesture but it meant a lot to me. We stood in silence holding each other's gaze not wanting to break the moment. I think I am truly ready to accept this new life that was planned out for me, as Angelo told me 'a new adventure with people who love me'.
Taking his hand in mine I gasped at the intense shocking feeling that reached my heart it was comforting yet pleasurable, a low growl was heard from Caiden before he gathered me in his arms again this time he just held me. I listened to how fast his heart was racing probably as fast as mine, wrapping my arms around his torso I allowed myself to relax against his body.

"You don't know how long I've waited for you," I heard him say against my hair. Pulling free from his hold but not distancing myself too far I looked up at him, pure adoration filled his eyes for me. How can this be when he only met me a few days ago?

"Remember. Slow. I still want to know how does this works. The soul mate thing. Me being the next princess?" I said smiling.

He nodded while kissing my head. "Any question you ask, I will answer," he said.

A brisk wind blew our way causing me to shiver involuntarily, he saw this and brought me closer to him. "Why don't I carry you home." He suggested.

I looked behind him for Eva but she wasn't there, "Uh that would be nice because it seems that my friend left without me" I said still looking for her hoping I would spot my redheaded friend.

"What!" he shouted, he caught me off guard with his outburst causing me to jump away a bit in fright. "She's your protector even if I am here," he growled as I noticed his eyes were getting darker, he stood still his body tense. What is going on with him?

"Caiden" I called out to him my voice breaking, this new side to him was frightening. His attention snapped towards me, no longer his eyes were dark but back to his striking grey. "Rosaline. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you" he said cautiously. I stepped back out of his reach. "Shit. Why do I always mess up" he muttered clutching his hair painfully.

I couldn't bear to see him like that blaming himself for something so little. "Caiden. It's alright maybe she thought we needed some privacy" I said going towards him.

"No. She's your protector. Her duty is to be around you all the time even when you are with me. Though I can protect you, you Rosaline are my greatest weakness" he said sharply.

His weakness? How am I his weakness?

He must have seen the confused look on my face because he let out a frustrated sigh. "Let's get you home" he simply said leading me towards the car. As I got in after the door was closed, he ran around to the driver's side with a frown on his face.

"You okay?" I asked touching his hand he took a sharp breath and nodded yes. I was about to take my hand away when he protested, "D-don't. It feels... Nice" he said holding my hand tighter before he released it to merge into the traffic then took it again.

After a moment of silence he cleared throat, "Do you want to ask me anything?" he asked nervously.

"Can I see your wolf?" I stupidly blurted out. Caiden let out a loud laugh and asked, "of all the things you can ask you want to know when you can see my wolf"

"What? I mean from the story Eva told me and the little understanding I have now. I want to actually see it" I said playing with the zipper of my bag.

He stayed quiet for a moment as if he was contemplating his answer, "Soon." Was his answer, sending a sweet smile my way.

We stayed quiet once again but in comfortable silence, I peeked at him under my lashes captivated by the way he chews on his bottom lip as he concentrated on the road. His beard was removed giving him a much more boyish look, his golden-brown hair was in a sexy-just-got-up way my fingers itched to feel how soft it looked. I found my self wanting to be braver around him, it seems my body was responding to him in ways I could never imagine.

"Rosaline" I heard him say. I blushed thinking he caught me staring at him. "Yes, Caiden?" I answered softly.

"We are here," he said pointing out the window I turned to look out the window to find myself parked in front of the shelter. I kept my head low still embarrassed that I was homeless and broke compare to him. "Thank You" I mumbled hurrying to get out of the car.

"Wait. What's the rush?" he called after me I heard his door opened and closed which made me hurry faster to the door.

"Rosaline. Please don't run from me" he said spinning me around to face him but I kept my head bent.

"Look at me please," I heard the pleading in his voice as his fingers came below my chin urging me to raise my head.

"Hey. Are you embarrassed that I brought you home?" he asked as I lifted my head. He looked a bit hurt at his assumption. "No. Gods No. If someone's gotta be embarrassed is me. I live at a homeless shelter, the girl you want is homeless and broke" I exclaimed aloud. He cocked his head to the side and smirked.

"No, she isn't."

"Yes, I am. Can't you see the shelter behind me?"

"The girl I want has a roof over her head and a place to keep her warm when I'm not there to do the job. She isn't broke, she has the love of people around her and new people that have just entered her life. I say she's extremely rich" He began to stroke my cheek with his thumb as he looked down at me. His words made sense and it made me see how different he is compared to others.

"You really do love me huh?"

"More than anything in the world. I don't expect you to feel the same but hopefully, as time goes by you would come to love me"

Here is this handsome man professing his love for me and willing to accept me when I can only say I'm fond of him, he truly is my prince charming. Maybe all of this won't be too bad.

"I'm sure I will," I said pulling him into a warm embrace.

"Thank you for giving this a chance Rosaline," he said against my neck.


*************************************


**Caiden**

As I watched my mate go safely inside I quickly crossed the street where Nicky and Stephen stood waiting for me.

"Where is Eva? I didn't sense her in the shelter nor had a trace of her scent." I growled lowly as a few people walked by us. We began to take a stroll along the sidewalk and continued our conversation over our link.

'Seth has an eye on her. She's at a bar a block away from here' Nicky said.

'What is wrong with her' I shouted. My men visibly flinched and stepped away from me.

'She's young, your highness. She hasn't been trained to be a protector.' Stephen said.

"You're right. I know how to rectify this problem" I said out loud. After dismissing them to go back to their post, I jogged back to my car and got my phone out of the glove compartment.

'Would you like to spend the weekend with me at my home?' I texted Rosaline hoping she would say yes. Minutes passed as I sat in the car waiting for her reply.

'Sure. I love your home' she replied. I wanted to respond by saying its now hers but caught myself as it would be to forward and fast.

'Great. I would pick you up after work. Till then my beautiful Rosaline'

'Till then Caiden'

Hearing my name on her lips earlier sent my wolf and I wild, I wanted to claim her right then in the midst of everyone. I wanted the world to know that she was mine. Only mine. Reaching that stage would take some time but when we do reach that stage would she allow me to do it? She would be the first human to sit on the throne, a mate to a royal.

Before I drove off I texted Eva 'Training starts this weekend', I knew I won't get a response, something was bothering her and I knew who would help her.

Driving towards my home I called Micah,

"Its alright, Cay. I shouldn't have doubted the princess and also disrespected her'" he said answering the phone. I stayed quiet for a while then asked the question I have been dreading, "How bad did I hurt you?"

"Caiden forget it, man. I healed very well. I'll be back home by tomorrow night" he said. We both stayed in silence. Years of friendship and brotherhood nearly ended by me because I was unable to control my emotions and powers. I nearly killed my best friend.

"Look, bro. When I get back we will go for a run and chill like old times" he said finally.

"Sure man. My mate and her protector are going to be with us this weekend. I heard how well Eva listens to you. Something is up with her. Talk to her Micah." I said trying to calm myself after remembering how she disappeared without notifying any of us.

"No prob. See you soon bro," he said hanging up just as I turned into my driveway. I was greeted at the door by my father, out of habit we greeted each other with a hug and a kiss on the head from him, at 24 I thought I would refuse or be ashamed by my father's love being shown so openly but I didn't. My mother and Father are very important in my life they were my anchor when I was uncontrollable in my teen years and they still are. I was still thanking them for stopping me from killing my best friend, though thanks to Angelo those memories are gone I still felt guilty about it all.

"How is your mate?" dad asked as he leads me to the den where my mother, brother, and uncle sat watching television.

"She's great. She agreed to give it a try" I said with a silly grin on my face. Everyone in the room wished me luck and congratulated me on finally having a chance with my mate.

"Thanks, little bro," I said to Angelo who was sitting next to mom playing a game on his phone. He simply gave me a thumbs-up as a response. Rolling my eyes at him I sat next to my mother then rested my head in her lap. "When are you guys leaving?" I asked her quietly.

"In a few hours baby. Don't worry we would come back soon. I'm sure you don't want your parents and uncle hovering in the corners when your mate is around" she chided. I missed my family a lot, I missed our times like these, it was the first time in six years that we all were in the same room without a computer screen separating us. Mom and Dad were leaving to go to an Alpha summit in Italy, Uncle Caleb had to go back to Britain while Angelo had royal duties at the castle.

It sucked that they all came because my powers were uncontrollable and not on a happier note.

I heard Angelo shuffling around on the couch then felt his head next to mine, we turned and looked up at our beautiful mother. Her striking green eyes, ivory skin, and long brown hair to us were a vision of an angel, our mother. I smiled at what my brother suggested and gave him the go-ahead. We closed our eyes and brought up one of the happiest memory when we were younger, we held her hand and projected the image outward for everyone to see.

The gift of projection was one gift that my brother and I shared we often use it to show our mother how much we loved her and to our father whenever he missed mom or us. The memory we projected was of us when we were crowned princes at our parents' coronation. Mom was dancing with both of us as dad looked on, we saw how lovingly he looked at mom and the way she looked at us made us feel proud to be her sons.

"I love you both my little princes. You two and your sister have made us so proud. All we want for you all is the happiness we currently have. I would miss you all too" we heard our mother saying as she kissed our heads.

'Love you too mama' we both told her over our link. Opening our eyes, we were met with the vision of our mother smiling down at us, as she touched my cheek a vision came to me.

When it was over, it jolted me back into reality, I scrambled off the couch and looked at my family, tears rolled down my face "Why can't they leave us alone?" I said to myself but I knew they all heard.

The kingdom is under threat once more.