Rosalind made an excuse to go to the powder room, but her real intention was to find a quiet spot to gather her thoughts. As she made her way down the hall, she noticed a door slightly ajar and decided to investigate.
As she pushed the door open, she found herself in a small room that appeared to be a library. She breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the door behind her, grateful for the peace and quiet. The room was lined with bookshelves filled with old leather-bound tomes and there was a plush armchair in the corner.
She walked over to the armchair and sat down, taking a deep breath. She was tired, the events of the day weighing heavily on her. Before she knew it, exhaustion had overtaken her and she drifted off into a light sleep.
When she woke up, she felt disoriented for a moment. As she sat up, she hugged the blanket and ran her fingers over it, she could feel the texture of the threads and the weight of the blanket. It was a comforting and cozy feeling. Rosalind's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized that someone had been kind, but saw an embarrassing side of her.
"...Oh no!" She clenched her jaw as she quickly got up and smoothed out her dress, trying to compose herself before heading back to the dinner.As she stepped out of the library, she glanced around to see if anyone was nearby. Feeling flustered, Rosalind made her way back to the dinner, hoping to blend in with the crowd and avoid any awkward encounters.
As she rejoined her sister, she would look around more, trying to see if someone in particular was looking at her, someone that had seen her… sleeping. No one seemed to have noticed she was gone, and that came to her as a relief. Perhaps it was family?, she thought. Though that would probably be worse as she wouldn't hear the end of it. Still… she couldn't help but feel grateful for whoever took their time to place the blanket on top of her.
Once the dinner concluded, the guests began to slowly make their way back to their respective rooms in the state. Rosalind couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as she watched them go. She was exhausted and the idea of being able to finally retreat to her room was a comforting thought.
When she stood up from her seat, she caught a glimpse of her brother and father engaged in conversation across the room. Their hushed tones and anxious expressions left her with a sense of unease, but she quickly pushed it aside and made her way towards the door. However, she heard the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her. She turned to see Emily standing there, looking at her with a warm smile. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Rosalind," Emily said. "I just wanted to say that it was lovely to see you again. I hope we can get together soon."
Rosalind smiled back, grateful for the brief moment of kindness. "I'd like that, and congratulations!" she replied. She said good nights' and made way to her room. Samantha got ready to go to be with her and she quickly changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, letting out a contented sigh as she snuggled into the soft pillows.
Rosalind's eyes slowly opened, the darkness of the room making it difficult to distinguish the objects around her. She sat up, rubbing her eyes as she realized that she had only been asleep for a couple of hours. It was a feeling she was all too familiar with, one that had plagued her since she was a teenager. She knew it wasn't a full moon, but the lunar cycles still affected her in some way.
She sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. Instead, she slipped out of bed, pulling on a soft robe and padding silently across the room. She picked up her laptop, wondering what she should do to pass the time. She thought about going to the library again, and she made her way to it. Rosalind couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in the silence of the mansion. It was peaceful, the only sounds were the soft rustling of her robe and the occasional creak of the old wooden floors. She knew that most of the guests would be sound asleep at this hour, so she didn't have to worry about running into anyone.
When she reached the library, she was relieved to find that it was empty. She settled into one of the armchairs, her laptop open in front of her. She began to type, the soft tapping of the keys the only sound in the room.
Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, making her jump in surprise. She turned around, her heart racing, and lifted her laptop as if ready to strike the person who had startled her. But as her eyes fell on the man before her.
"Wow, easy there!" The male raised his hands up.
He was tall and broad-shouldered with sharp features and piercing blue eyes. His hair was dark and messy, and he wore a tracksuit that hugged his lean frame perfectly. He looked like he belonged to one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the world. She had never seen him before, but he had to be a Carreira.
"You are really focused," he said with a small smile, his eyes wandering over her face. She felt her cheeks flush and quickly lowered her laptop, trying to regain her composure.
"Uh, yeah, I guess I am," she replied, feeling her voice catch in her throat.
Rosalind cleared her throat and asked, "Who are you?" The man looked surprised for a moment before a small smirk appeared on his lips. "You don't know who I am?" he asked, sounding almost amused.
She shook her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I don't," she replied.
He didn't seem to mind her lack of knowledge about his identity and instead, he asked, "What are you doing here at this time of the night?"
Rosalind hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she should trust him with her reasons for being up. But something about his demeanor made her feel comfortable enough to speak her mind.
"I couldn't sleep, so I decided to come to the library to pass the time," she said, her eyes still fixed on his face.
He leaned in a little closer, his nose wrinkling slightly. "Your scent is different from earlier today," he commented, his tone laced with curiosity.
Rosalind frowned, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the sudden change in the conversation. "What do you mean?" she asked, feeling defensive.
But the man seemed unfazed by her reaction. "It's nothing to worry about. It's just something that happens to Lycans, especially when the full moon is getting closer," he said, with a small shrug of his broad shoulders.
Rosalind made a face and looked at him with confusion. "I'm not a Lycan," she clarified. "I'm from the werewolf tribe." The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? That's interesting," he said, his gaze curious. "Females in the werewolf tribe... not all of them can turn, only a selected few. " And I definitely cannot, Rosalind thought to herself.
The man looked at Rosalind suspiciously. "I noticed you were here during dinner, and now again. What are you really doing here?" he asked, his voice low.
Rosalind shifted uncomfortably, feeling like she was being interrogated. "I...I'm just trying to…"
Rosalind's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait, are you the one...are you the blanket guy?!" she exclaimed, realizing that this was the same man who could have given her the blanket earlier. The man chuckled, nodding his head. "Yeah, that was me," he replied.
"I'm also trying to lay low for now," he said, his tone serious, as they both fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments,coming to an understanding.
The man studied Rosalind for a moment, his piercing blue eyes scanning over her features. "You don't really look like the Carreira family," he remarked, his tone thoughtful.
"What do you mean?" She was confused, and knowing well what he meant as she touched her hair.
"It's definitely much darker, lacking that red tone…" The man's lips quirked up in a sad smile, as if remembering something. "I'm sorry, but I have to go," the man said, his expression turning serious. "But I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again soon." He left, and it looked like the darkness of the Estate welcomed him in. The door was closed behind him and he was gone.
Rosalind exhaled and sank back into the chair, feeling the weight of the night finally catching up to her. As she closed her eyes, she noticed a faint scent lingering in the air. Her nose wasn't as keen as the others, but even to her, it smelled different from the usual scents she was used to.
She inhaled deeply, trying to catch more of the aroma. It was faint, but there was something undeniably delightful about it. She couldn't quite place what it was.
As she made her way back to her room, Rosalind couldn't help but chuckle to herself. She was glad that Mr. Blanket turned out to be a friendly person after all. It was a relief to have someone to talk to, even if it was just for a short while.
As she slipped into her bed, Rosalind yawned and felt the exhaustion of the day wash over her. She snuggled into the soft blankets and pillows, grateful for the comfort they provided. As she closed her eyes, she couldn't help but wonder about the strange scent she had caught earlier. It was a faint, but pleasant smell that she couldn't quite place.
She dismissed the thought and let herself drift off to sleep, feeling safe and content.
The next morning, Samantha's insistent tugging on the covers woke Rosalind up from her deep slumber. "Rosalind, wake up! We can't miss breakfast," Samantha urged, pulling on the blankets again. Groaning, Rosalind sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Rosalind groggily got out of bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She quickly dressed and followed Samantha down to the dining room. As she entered, she was struck by how everything was perfectly arranged. The tables were set with pristine white tablecloths, polished silverware, and crystal glasses.
The buffet was filled with a variety of breakfast options - fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, bacon, sausage, and more. Rosalind's stomach grumbled as she took in the delicious spread.
As Rosalind made her way through the line, her gaze kept darting around the room, searching for any sign of Mr. Blanket. However, she only caught glimpses of a few of the male Carreiras, and he was not among them. Frustrated, she let out a small sigh and took a seat at a table with Samantha.
Glancing around the room once more, Rosalind leaned over to her sister and asked, "Do you know how many males are in the Carreira family?" Samantha shrugged and replied, "I'm not sure"
As Rosalind scanned the room again, her mother and father joined them at the table. Her mother caught her eye and smiled knowingly. "Are you looking for someone, my dear?" she asked, a teasing tone in her voice.
"No, Mother," she replied with a stone face.
Her mother chuckled. "Oh, come now. It's perfectly normal to be interested in the Carreira boys. They're all very handsome and charming. Are you interested in one of them?"
Rosalind shook her head, but her mother didn't seem to believe her. "Well, keep an open mind, dear. It's time for you to start thinking about marriage while I do know you like school…remember there are duties of the tribe," her mother said with a smile, as she turned her attention to the buffet.
Rosalind ate her breakfast in silence, lost in thought. The conversation with her mother had reminded her of the expectations placed on women in their clan. Marriage and children were a must, especially for those who could give birth, like her. The pressure to continue the lineage was always present, and it made her feel trapped.
She took a sip of her coffee and looked around the room, avoiding her mother's gaze. The other guests seemed to be enjoying themselves, chatting and laughing with their families. Rosalind envied that they all enjoyed and accepted this lifestyle and wondered if she would ever be able to escape the tribe's traditions.
As she ate, she thought of all the possibilities that lay beyond the tribe's boundaries. The world was vast and full of opportunities, and she yearned to explore it. But leaving the tribe would not be easy. It was a tight-knit community, and she would have to be careful if she didn't want to be caught.
Rosalind shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She needed a plan, a way to escape the tribe without causing any harm.
Rosalind got up to refill her coffee cup, noticing that the library was just a few steps away. As she poured herself a fresh cup, she glanced around the room to make sure nobody was watching her. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she quietly slipped out of the breakfast room and headed towards the library.
As she entered the library, she took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief. This was her sanctuary, her escape from the pressures of her family and the werewolf tribe. She wandered through the stacks, trailing her fingers along the spines of the books, and eventually settled down in a cozy armchair in a quiet corner of the room.
Rosalind was caught off guard by the sudden voice behind her. She turned around to find Mr. Blanket standing there, looking at her with a small smile on his lips. "Are you... stalking me?" he asked playfully, making Rosalind feel slightly embarrassed.
"I think the stalker is you," she replied, trying to sound confident. But deep down, she knew that she had been keeping an eye out for him since their conversation the night before.
He chuckled at her response and then took the coffee from her, thanking her for it. Rosalind watched him take a sip, and she couldn't help but notice how attractive he looked in the morning light.