Taya's POV
The coffee shop close to the house had become my regular hide out spot for me whenever I got tired of staying indoors. My tongue scalded from sipping from the cup of latte a little too quickly.
"I never get tired of having my latte here. It's the most perfect thing." I smiled wistfully and addressed the server who waited at my table. It was a middle aged woman. She owned the coffee shop and managed it all by herself.
"I know exactly how you like it, dear. Please enjoy." She responded with a polite and kind smile.
I found it refreshing to come here because it had no crowds and I had a private cozy cubicle to myself. I could avoid the fake smiles and underlying insults presented as respect.
Aside from these reasons, Maya, the coffee shop owner, treated me so warmly. She welcomed me with a smile whenever I came to the shop and always stayed a few minutes back to chat after giving me my serving. It was how I imagined that my mother would have treated me if she had stayed alive.
She would have loved me as much as my twin sister, Rita did when we were younger. Rita and I were beyond sisters, we were tied friends. Growing up, no one could separate us. But unlike most twins who complimented each other's strengths and weaknesses, I was weaknessand she was my strength.
I remembered the countless times she had defended me when we were younger. The pack children would often tease me, calling me weak and fragile. But she would step in, protecting me and telling them to leave me alone.
"You're not weak, Taya," she would say, angry that I allowed them to push me around. "You're just different."
I smiled as I look back at our early years together. Regret beginning to seep in as my mind return back to the present.
We were close but a lot as change about us as life led us to different direction.
Relaxing with my eyes closed, I took a sip of the latte feeling the warmth as it radiates through my although it was for a short time I experienced this. I had to return to my home.
As I walked through the front door, I sensed the atmosphere change. Although I was too weak to sense my wolf, I still had a strong sense of smell. My brows furrowed tightly as I thought about the scent. It smelt like my mate, Jacob, but it had something added in it, like the smell of flowers.
I was deep in contemplation, when I heard a voice from another room in the house.
"Taya?"
My chest beat,as I turned around . Rita was there at the living room smiling at me.
"Surprise!" She said, her eyes glinting excitedly and spread out her hands for a hug.
I blinked slowly, not believing my eyes. I felt that she could disappear and that she wasn't really here.
"Come on Taya, my arms hurt." She whined playfully.
Without any more convincing, I ran towards her and flung my arm around her holding her tightly.
"Oh my goodness, Soph! You're here!" I exclaimed, tears of joy welling up in my eyes.
Rita laughed and hugged me back. "Yes Taya, I'm here! I've missed you so much." She pulled away from the hug and asked, her eyes scanning the area. "Where's your mate?"
Just then, a familiar figure descended from the stairs, and approached us.
"Hello there, Rita." Jacob greeted her with a smile.
My sister's face lit up like a child given a gift on Christmas day as she dashed into his arms. The two were locked in a tight emotional hug and I watched in surprise from the side like an outsider.
When did the two get so close? When did they bond so quickly that I was not aware? I wondered.
When they finally broke apart, I could notice a faint flush rising to Jacob's cheek. He looked so…happy. I don't think I've ever seen him that way with me.
He seemed to remember that I had been standing there and greeted me, awkwardly patting my shoulder "Hello, Taya." Then he hurriedly walked away, leaving me standing there.
I could feel tears gathering in my eyes from how he had treated me compared to how he welcomed my sister. I glanced at her quickly to check if she'd seen what happened and was surprised to find her smiling at me.
I smiled back at her, understanding that she was encouraging me.
"Let's get you to your room." I whispered to her with a forced smile, feeling my dampened mood rise again. She nodded in agreement and held me by my hand. "When did you arrive? Have you been waiting long?"
"No I haven't. I just arrived a few minutes before you came back." She explained and gave me a once over before saying, "How are you and Jacob doing?"
I inhaled deeply, tears shimmering in my eyes at her concern and talked to her about virtually everything that had been going on with me. It was nice to finally get everything off my chest.
I didn't notice how long we'd been talking until one of the maids knocked on the door informing us that dinner was ready. She went down before me, and I went to use the bathroom before coming down.
As I descended from the fleet of stairs, my breath caught in my throat as I found Jacob and Rita seated at the table. They seemed to be engaged in a heated discussion about something. The moment they saw me, they stopped whatever they were talking about and smiled at me.
They seemed to be engaged in a serious conversation about something. When they spotted me, they stopped what they were talking about and smiled at me.
I was looking at them, trying to decipher what transpired. What were they talking about and why did they stop when they saw me coming? Everything was just strange.
"Hey Taya, what are you doing standing there? Join us." My sister invited me with excitement.
My mouth opened, but no words came out. I walked towards the table and dragged out a seat before sitting down.
I chewed on my lower lip as I stared at Jacob, wanting to ask about the pack meeting he had to attend. Why was he still here?
"Are you okay, Taya?" My sister asked, interrupting my thoughts.
I forced a small smile, "Yes I'm fine, Rita." And with that, I munched on a spoonful of food.