Rosalind's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation. She grabbed her sister;s hand, trying to ease her shaken state,but Sam's eyes were fixed on the composed male.
Matteo spoke up coldly, "It is best if you both leave." He took a sip of his coffee and went back to his reading, as if nothing had happened. Rosalind was taken aback by the sudden change in Matteo's demeanor. The warm, friendly man who had greeted her earlier was gone, replaced by someone cold and distant. Samantha, on the other hand, was visibly pale.
Without a word, Rosalind took Samantha by the arm and led her out of the coffee shop. They walked to the nearest park, where Rosalind sat her sister down on a bench and tried to calm her down.
She squeezed her sister's hand gently with her thumb, trying to provide some comfort. "Take deep breaths," she said softly, hoping to help her sister regain her composure.
As Samantha's breathing began to slow, Rosalind couldn't help but wonder what was going on with Matteo. His sudden shift in demeanor had caught her off guard, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she didn't know.
"Are you okay?" Rosalind asked her sister, as it was clear how distressed her sister was…
Samantha nodded slowly, as she tried to appear calm but her eyes still betrayed her unease. "I just...I didn't expect him to be there," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rosalind gave her hand another squeeze. "Sam… What is happening? Is this still about the Curse from the mates?" Samantha quickly shook her head.
Rosalind listened intently as Samantha whispered her confession. She could see the fear and sadness in her sister's eyes as she recounted what she had witnessed. "I am not supposed to say it, but I saw it... I was present," Samantha whispered, glancing around as if afraid someone might be listening in.
"Gabriel..." She choked up. "Gabriel.. it was a full moon and," Samantha paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "He tried to challenge Matteo." Rosalind could see the memory was still vivid in her sister's mind.
Samantha continued, her voice cracking with emotion, "and he transformed, but he reverted back to human...I've never seen something like that before. No one could turn. No male of our tribe could turn! Matteo was just.. smiling. It was entertaining to him..." She shook her head, the tears now flowing freely down her cheeks.
Rosalind felt a knot form in her stomach as she listened to Samantha's story. She knew that Lycans were powerful creatures, but she had never imagined that they could prevent werewolves from shifting. The thought of it was terrifying.
"I'm so sorry, Sam," Rosalind said softly, taking her sister's hand in hers. "I had no idea."
Samantha gave her a weak smile. "It's okay. It's not your fault," she said. "But you have to understand, Matteo is not just a Lycan...he is a..."
"Alpha," Rosalind finished for her. She blinked, realizing the full implications of what Samantha had just revealed. That's why his family didn't care if he was hunted. No wonder he could easily escape. No werewolf had any chance against him.
She stood up and pulled her sister up with her. "Let's go to that boutique we were talking about earlier. Maybe some retail therapy will help."
Samantha managed a small smile in return and nodded, grateful for her sister's presence. They walked to the nearby boutique, and Rosalind made it her mission to distract her sister from the troubling events that had just occurred.
As they tried on dresses and picked out new accessories, Samantha's spirits lifted, and she even managed to laugh a few times. Rosalind was happy to see her sister relax and forget about their worries, even if it was just for a little while.
After a successful shopping trip, they walked back to their car, feeling much better than when they had arrived in town.
Rosalind and Samantha drove back to the Estate with the beautiful scenery of the sun going down, casting a warm glow across the sky. The sisters had the windows rolled down and the wind was blowing through their hair as they sang along to their favorite songs on the radio.
Samantha was in a much better mood now. She even began to sign:
♩ We'll look beautiful tonight~
In our dresses, so bright ♫
♩ We'll shine like stars in the sky
And catch every passerby's eye ♫
"Sam, you have such a beautiful voice," Rosalind said astound as she couldn't believe it. It was hard for her not to look at her sister as she drove.
Samantha looked over at her with a grin, "Thanks, sis! I've been practicing a lot lately."
"And those lyrics you just came up with... they were amazing," Rosalind added, genuinely impressed.
Samantha blushed, "I don't know where they came from, just popped into my head. But they fit, don't they?"
As the sun began to set, the sky was painted with hues of pink and orange, and the scenery was breathtaking. Rosalind couldn't help but admire the beauty of the moment as she drove them back to the Estate. However, it was short-lived; they pulled up and saw Gabriel waiting for them outside.
He stood there with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. It was obvious he was upset they had taken the car without his permission. Rosalind took a deep breath and parked the car, turning to her sister with a small smile. "Let me handle this," she said before stepping out of the car.
Gabriel's gaze shifted to her as she approached him, his scowl deepening. "You took the car without asking," he growled.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel," Rosalind replied calmly. "We just needed to get our dresses and we didn't think it would be a problem."
Gabriel asks "What? Samantha has dresses already..."
Gabriel's question caught Rosalind and Samantha off guard, and they exchanged a quick glance, unsure of what to say. Rosalind could tell that Gabriel was already upset with them for taking the car without permission, and she didn't want to make things worse by telling him about how their dresses were stolen.
Instead, they both giggled nervously and quickly made their way past Gabriel towards the house. "We have to get ready!" Rosalind exclaimed, trying to change the subject. Samantha nodded in agreement, and they practically ran to their bedroom.
As Rosalind and Samantha made their way through the grand halls of the estate, they noticed that the maids were busy preparing for an event. Everywhere they looked, there were vases of beautiful flowers being brought in, their fragrant scents filling the air.
When they passed by the ballroom, they caught a glimpse of the decorations. The walls were draped in silk and satin, the tables adorned with crystal candelabras and silverware. Everything looked so grand and elegant.
Rosalind and Samantha were in their shared bedroom, getting ready for the rehearsal dinner. They had both changed into the beautiful dresses they had bought from the boutique earlier in the day.
They both looked stunning and were excited to attend the rehearsal dinner. They gave each other a final twirl and laughed before heading out of the room.
"Why, my lady, you look breathtakingly beautiful," she said in a mock male tone, causing Samantha to giggle.
Samantha shook her head, "Stop it, Rosalind, you're going to make me blush even more."
Rosalind grinned mischievously, "Oh, we can't have that now, can we?"
As Rosalind and Samantha made their way through the hallway towards the staircase, they crossed paths with the Carreira women - Sofia, Chiara, and Emma. They were the ones who had taken their dresses.
Rosalind smiled politely as they seemed surprised to see them wearing the dresses.
"Rosalind, Samantha, you both look stunning," Sofia complimented with a smile. However, there was a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Oh, you are much too kind, Sofia," Rosalind replied with a gracious smile, trying to diffuse any tension she sensed from the Carreira women.
As they walked towards the ballroom where the rehearsal dinner was being held, Samantha linked her arm with Rosalind's and whispered, "What was that about?"
Rosalind shrugged. "Maybe they didn't expect us to find a dress in time" She chuckled.
They entered the ballroom, and Rosalind's breath caught in her throat as she took in the stunning decor. The room was decorated with beautiful flowers and candles, casting a warm glow throughout the space. The tables were adorned with elegant centerpieces, and the orchestra was already playing soft music in the background.
Rosalind and Samantha took their seats at the Cooper family's table, and Rosalind couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the grandeur of it all.
Samantha asked as she sipped water from a crystal glass"Do you know how to waltz?" Samantha's question caused Rosalind's stomach to drop. She had no idea how to waltz. "No..wait, we have to dance waltz?" she asked, her voice quivering with nervousness.
Samantha's eyes widened. "Of course we have to waltz! It's a formal dinner, and there's going to be dancing. What did you think you were going to do, sit in a corner and watch everyone else dance?"
"Yes, that sounds like what I exactly am planning to do "Rosalind rolls her eyes playfully. "I thought I could just sit in a corner and admire the beautiful decorations, but I guess I'll have to settle for watching you make a fool of yourself," she teased with a smile.
Samantha gasped " I will not !"
The ballroom began to fill up with more and more people. Guests they had never seen before, including Lycans and werewolf tribes from their side, arrived one by one. The room was alive with the chatter of the guests as they caught up with old friends and made new acquaintances. The air was filled with the scent of flowers, food, and perfume, and the sound of music drifted from the dance floor.
As their parents arrived at their table, Rosalind quickly realized that this was her chance to excuse herself and slip away unnoticed. She couldn't leave Samantha by herself with all these unfamiliar faces, but she also couldn't bear to be in such a crowded and overwhelming space any longer.
"Excuse me," Rosalind said as she stood up from the table. "I need to use the bathroom."
Their parents nodded, preoccupied with greeting other guests who had just arrived. Rosalind quickly slipped away, weaving her way through the crowded ballroom. She was nervous, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to avoid making eye contact with anyone. The last thing she wanted was to run into any other tribes.
Finally, she made it to the bathroom, taking a deep breath as she closed the door behind her.
Rosalind's mind raced as she thought of a place to go where she could hide. She couldn't go to the library, she didn't want to disturb Mr. Blanket's, even though she wasn't afraid of him. She thought about going to the gardens, but it was too cold outside.
Rosalind made her way to the second floor and started walking down the long hallway, scanning the name tags on each door. Most of the doors were labeled with the names of the guests who were occupying the rooms. She continued down the hallway until she found a door that didn't have a name tag on it and it was a different door. When she pushed it open she felt the weight of it. It was heavier than a normal door, but smooth.
She couldn't believe her eyes once she entered it. The room was dimly lit, and the air smelled of chemicals. The walls were lined with shelves, filled with jars and vials containing strange substances in various colors and states of matter. The shelves were also lined with books and journals, some of them very old and bound in leather.
In the center of the room was a large, wooden workbench covered in scientific equipment - beakers, test tubes, Bunsen burners, and pipettes. There was also a microscope and various lab instruments, such as a centrifuge and a spectrophotometer.
One wall of the laboratory was dominated by a large chalkboard, covered in complex equations and chemical formulas. There were also some notes scribbled in what appeared to be a hurried hand, as if the writer was in a rush to jot down their thoughts.
The room was clearly well-used, and there were signs of recent activity - some of the beakers still had liquid in them, and there were notes scattered on the bench.
"It's a Laboratory" She was surprised.