The Beast

She was so beautiful. The way she threw her head back when she laughed, or how her eyes seemed to sparkle with innocent happiness. A wave of protectiveness flowed through me as I looked at her, and I knew that I would do anything to make sure her beautiful eyes would always shine with that same innocent happiness.

Walking into the café, a chiming giggle made him turn around to see where the beautiful sound was coming from. The moment his eyes landed on the dark-haired beauty laughing softly with her friends, he knew his world had changed forever. It felt as though his cold, still heart had started beating for the very first time.

In all his twenty-four years, he had never felt anything like this before. He was tempted to walk over and take her away, to keep her all to himself forever, but he knew he couldn't do that. He was Xavier Night - a man who could do anything he wanted - yet her youthful innocence was obvious. She looked as though she had only just stepped into adulthood, and despite his reputation, he wasn't heartless enough to drag her into his world so soon.

She needed more time.

It would be wrong to introduce her to his chaotic life too early, so he decided he would wait a few more years. Until she was older. Until the time was right.

Then he would bring her into his world.

Then he would make her his - and only his.

--

I crossed my legs, getting more immersed into the book I was currently reading. I bit my lip trying to hold in the shriek that threatened to escape me. The poor escapee was about to be caught. I felt goosebumps raise on my skin as I was just about to turn the page, but was ripped out of my trance as a steaming cup of hot chocolate was slammed onto the table.

I looked up startled and saw Mrs.Walters giving me a sheepish smile. I felt my irritation at being interrupted fade as soon as it had appeared.

"You've been sitting there all day reading, so I thought I might bring you something to drink." She said, and I thanked her, offering her a small smile as I blew on the hot chocolate to rid it of the steam that rose from it.

"How's Cyrus?" I asked her, her husband a sweet elderly man, had recently been feeling very sick, he hated skipping out on work, but I hadn't seen him at the cafe in a while.

"He's getting better, slowly but surely and I'm fine Raine." She added as I frowned at her sympathetically. She was trying to look strong, but I knew how concerned she was for her husband. Maggie wouldn't look you in the eye if she was lying, and currently her grassy green eyes were darting all around the cafe, everywhere but me.

I reached out to straighten her name tag, Cyrus had new ones made for us very recently, they were outlined chocolate brown like the walls of the cafe, and were beige like all the furniture. He'd been so proud of them, initially he'd wanted ones that looked like little coffee mugs but Maggie wasn't on board with the idea. Apparently she was too cool for cute name tags. She gave me a grateful smile, but like all of her smiles lately, this one wasn't reaching her eyes.

I'd always envied her and Cyrus, the bond they shared was simply beautiful, I always hoped to have that one day. But then again looking at guys nowadays it was highly unlikely I would find someone. I always wanted a real gentleman, someone sweet and sincere, but guys nowadays were nothing like that so perhaps I would just adopt a few cats.

"Not that I mind you being here, but honey shouldn't you be out with friends? After all it is your birthday tomorrow, you're turning 21 and that's a big year." Maggie said to me.

"Maggie you know I don't like going out much. Sophie's been pestering me all month to allow her to throw me a big birthday bash. I'm not gonna do anything big for my birthday. Staying home in my pyjamas, watching movies and eating popcorn sounds like the perfect birthday to me." I said and she shook her head at me about to respond, when the little bell at the door rung signalling a customer had come in. She left to attend to the customer, and I got back to my reading.

I looked up from my book to see the cafe nearly empty, some customers had left their empty mugs loitered on the beige table tops, and some were careless enough to even throw their take away cups on the floors. Some days the dark hardwood floors looked as if our light blue take away cups were purposely put there as decorations, due to how many of them there were.

Glancing outside I was surprised to see it was pitch dark outside, there were so many lamps all over the cafe keeping it dimly lit, that I hadn't even noticed. I quickly gathered my stuff, getting ready to walk home. I set my empty ceramic mug on the countertop beside the trash can, where we had even put a sign asking customers to leave them here, but unfortunately the poor sign went quite ignored. I waved a quick bye to Maggie promising her she would see me tomorrow in time for my shift, before heading out the door into the cold. I'd long learned not to offer to help in the cafe when I wasn't scheduled. Cyrus and Maggie took offers like that more as a comment on how old they were, than a helpful gesture.

The cafe was adorable, but it wasn't located in the safest of areas, especially at night since it was completely isolated. Not that this town really had a high crime rate, but it wasn't smart to take chances. I walked quickly feeling my skin prickle with the feeling of being watched, that was one of the reasons I didn't like the dark. This certain paranoia that I was being watched was unavoidable. I started walking a bit faster once I heard the gravel crunching behind me, my heart rate picking up in fear. I walked at a brisk pace reaching my little apartment in a matter of minutes. I struggled with the keys sighing in relief when I heard the familiar click of the lock opening and pushed open the door stepping into my warm apartment. I set my bag on the stand at the side slipping off my boots and coat, hanging up my coat on the coat rank. One of the perks of not living with your parents was even if you left your shoes right in front of the door, your mother couldn't yell at you.

I walked further into the apartment eager to just sink into the warmth and comfort of my bed after that terrifying walk. I felt my heart stop as I heard a groan come from my living room. Looking around for a weapon, I spotted a large bright red umbrella with black hearts, and grabbed that. My stature wasn't exactly intimidating so I would need the weapon to scare the intruders. I wasn't completely thin, perhaps just on the slender to average side, the amount of sugar I consumed daily ensured that, but for some strange reason I had always appeared to be petite, soft somehow. That wasn't exactly the ideal frame for intimidation and being 5'4 didn't help either.

I walked into the living room cautiously and slowly despite how fast my heart was racing. Looking around the corner my heart skipped a beat as I saw the top of a head from behind the couch. Giving up trying to be cautious, I raced towards the couch with what I deemed a battle cry, with the umbrella raised high in the air. A cringeworthy screech escaped my lips as I felt the umbrella connect with the intruder's head, I wasn't a particularly violent person, so this was completely new to me.

He frantically yelled for me to stop in a voice that sounded quite familiar, but in my adrenalin driven state I ignored it, bashing in the intruder's skull with the umbrella. I suddenly heard a giggle confusing me enough to stop trying to knock out the murderer.

The lights flickered on and I saw my best friend Sophie standing there giggling while Jay held his hands to his head scowling at me.

"What are you guys doing here?" I yelled absolutely exasperated.

"Why did you try to kill me?" My friend Jay yelled looking completely offended that I had hit him with my umbrella. In my panicked state the umbrella looked like a great weapon, but now in the light, it looked pretty harmless.

"You were sitting in my room behind the couch, how did you get in?" I asked still a little freaked out trying to calm my racing heart. He had the audacity to ask why he'd been attacked, when he had broke into my home. Although they both probably had their own copies of my keys. I was being a little hypocritical I did have copies to their houses as well, but I didn't hide behind couches and give them heart attacks.

"We wanted to be the first ones to wish you happy birthday." My friend Sophie chimed in.

"By giving me a heart attack?" I asked my voice shrill.

"Oh you don't get to act like that, you almost killed me." Jay said, clearly still mad.

"Stop whining you cry baby, it's a soft Steve Madden umbrella, it can't even keep out rain let alone hurt a person." Sophie told Jay rolling her eyes.

"But how did you know we were here?." Sophie asked turning to me.

"I heard a groan, and thought there were murderers in the house so I grabbed the umbrella and got ready to defend myself." I explained my face flushing a little at the way that sounded out loud. I needed to stop reading those murder mysteries, they were getting to my head. Although attacking someone you think to be an intruder is quite reasonable, I should have probably tried to get a look at the person before beginning my attack. Thank god it wasn't my parents visiting, I'd be grounded till death if I hit my mom with an umbrella.

"Seriously you think someone has snuck in so you grab a soft little umbrella with hearts on it and run towards them screaming like a mad woman?" Sophie asked incredulously, making me blush scarlet.

"Well anyways Happy Birthday baby pie." Jay said wrapping me up in a bone breaking embrace while Sophie whined in the background, for apparently they were supposed to say it together.

They had brought an adorable looking chocolate cake. The fudge was so dense and sugary you could feel the granular crunch of the sugar in between your teeth, just as I liked my cake. Although Sophie was usually invested in trying to improve Jay and I's diet so we wouldn't die years before her, she knew birthdays were too special to eat healthy food on.

As we ate, Jay got Sophie and I caught up on all the recent gossip, most of which was most probably a bit too wild to be true in our small town, or really even possible, but we listened to him all the same. Jay was such an animated storyteller, his bright green eyes would enlarge to the size of saucers as he approached the climactic parts of his story. He'd move his head around so much Sophie would have to reach over to fix his hair back into place for him, and he'd pass her a quick silly grin whenever she did in appreciation.

Jay and Sophie were opposites, Jay was loud and obnoxious while Sophie was super protective and much more proper but they got along so well. Sophie was basically the mother figure of the group, and Jay needed a lot more mothering than I did most of the time.

"Raine, look at this." Jay said breaking me out of my thoughts and I refocused onto the two, catching sight of what Jay's holding out and my cheeks turn bright red immediately. Of course that made my friends laugh, because apparently I was much too naive, but a man using a teddy bear to cover up his doodly doo was a bit embarrassing.

"Jay stop searching up weird stuff on my laptop, my google search history is pretty bad as it is, the last thing I need is you searching up more weird stuff. The government can look into that you know." I tell him, my voice growing hushed as I get to the last part and Jay's eyes widen.

"R-really?" He squeaks out, and Sophie nods in response making Jay gulp.

"Remind me, I've got to do some search history deleting, and searching of normal people things when I go home tomorrow." Jay said and Sophie opened her mouth to say something but I shook my head at her immediately, making her mouth close. She shrugged, reaching for one of the forks, and dug straight into the actual cake, not even bothering to cut a slice. Well it would just make her feel bad if she was the only one eating that way, so I was basically obligated to do so as well.

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Note :

Please do not copy this book, or translate it. We all have minds of our own please use yours and come up with your own book, don't be as low as to steal somebody else's work. I will find out, I will report it and your book will be deleted if you do. It's a pointless hassle that can be very easily avoided. If you see any copying or translations of this book please let me know, I have not allowed anyone to do so. Also for my rereaders it's amazing that you want to reread the book but please don't comment any spoilers at all even with warnings. Enjoy reading!

I had just walked into the cafe to start my shift when Maggie came bouncing upto me smiling brightly. I looked at her hesitant to ask what had her so excited, but one glance at the huge bouquet of gorgeous red roses in her hand and I knew.

"Cyrus feeling romantic again?" I asked Maggie smirking slightly, it was adorable she still blushed every time he did any romantic notion for her.

"Oh no darling these are for you." Maggie said thrusting the bouquet into my arms.

"And it's got a note." She added in a singsong voice as I looked at her in confusion. Why had I gotten roses when I wasn't romantically involved with anyone?

I fished threw the flowers finding the little white note and pulled it out.

"Happy Birthday my love."

The note said in elegant script, and once I got over the initial flattery, I turned the card expecting to see a name but upon finding none I looked up at Maggie questioningly.

"Who gave these to you?" I asked her, confused as to why somebody would send such beautiful flowers without taking credit.

"I don't know, they were outside the store when I got here." She said and I shrugged, it was probably just a prank or sadly perhaps delivered to the wrong address, maybe I wasn't the only one in town who's birthday it was. After putting away my stuff I got to work organizing the books, bringing the roses out to the front with me.

"Should I just put them by the romance books? I really don't know what else to do with them." I asked Maggie, I didn't even have any glass vases in my apartment to stand them up in so they'd be put to better use here.

"You sure your secret admirer won't be offended?" She asked.

"I'm kind of just gonna keep my fingers crossed that it's a fluke, I mean the last time I got hit on was sophomore year and if it's that guy then he needs to see I'm not interested and give up. It's been 4 years." I explained.

"He wasn't your type?" She asked.

"Truth is I don't think I was his." I answered and she raised her brows in confusion at my statement but I just shook my head at her. Trying to subtly gesture to the customers who had just come in and were uncomfortably staring at the two of us.

I sent an awkward smile at the customers before walking away to the back where our romance books were. I set the flowers on the small wooden coffee table we had in the centre of two lounge chairs. The red roses actually looked very nice amongst the soft woody browns of the reading area.

The day went by quickly with me attending to the few regulars and sending side glances to the gorgeous roses. Unfortunately there wasn't even a florist company written that I could send them back to, the real recipient of the gorgeous flowers was just going to have to miss out.

Maggie wiggled her eyebrows at me every time she saw me looking at the roses making me scrunch my nose in distaste. Maggie was convinced I had a secret admirer, while I knew not to be that idealistic. It was obviously just a misunderstanding or expensive prank and I playfully rolled my eyes at her every time she suggested anything but. I wasn't involved with anyone, so unless they were from my parents who were forgetful enough to forget a card, they were pretty creepy if they were intended for me.

At lunch Jay and Sophie stopped by bringing with them a chocolate fest and while gorging myself on the delicious creamy chocolate I told them about the flowers. To my dismay that took over our conversations and they came up with multiple theories all seemingly impossible. Sophie's were entirely gruesome and always ended up with me being kidnapped by a lonely old man whether he be a farmer or a retired pirate while Jays were extremely romantic revolving around fairy tales.

Maggie had a lot of fun with Jays theories while she swatted at Sophie's head every time she heard one of her gruesome theories. Maggie encouraged me to leave with my friends even though my shift had not ended yet, and pressed an adorably wrapped gift into my hands before I left, telling me it was from her and Cyrus both. Although I would have rather had seen Cyrus, but understandably he wasn't well enough. I knew they loved me like their own but I didn't want to go bother Cyrus if he was too ill to come into the cafe. Cyrus wasn't one to be stopped easily, he must have been extremely ill to be absent for as long as he has.

Jay and Sophie refused to listen to me and got me dolled up, dragging me to a party that one of Sophie's friends was throwing. I had tried bargaining with them, but my criminal minded friends had all but kidnapped me saying that this was for the best and I had to get out more. Admittedly I wasn't very social, but was that truly something that needed fixing? I actually quite enjoyed my introvert lifestyle.

We finally got to the house and I cringed as we walked in, the music was mind numbingly loud and the drunk people were much too excited to see each other.

I stood next to Jay trying to talk to his friends and not be my awkward self for once, trying to let loose, have fun. But really parties weren't my definition of fun. I didn't particularly understand the hype of getting intoxicated and rubbing your privates on a stranger, although if that made them happy then they were free to do as they please.

Birthdays weren't very important to me, especially not if it were my own. So if it made Sophie and Jay happy, then I'd just suffer through the loud music and putrid smell of alcohol. Also it did put my parents' minds to rest, they were afraid that I stayed in reading more than what was healthy. Their excitement over me going out had outlasted my high school years and trickled into my university. As if going away from home to live alone wasn't enough to prove my ability to take care of myself.

I soon found myself sitting on a couch in the house while my friends tried to get me to come dance with them, making odd gestures from the dance floor. Fortunately though the weird rope move Jay was currently doing worked on the couple next to me, and they made their way to the dance floor.

I stayed in my seat, laughing at their attempts before motioning to them I was leaving. To which of course they had no idea what I was saying, so I decided I would just message them and leave. Luckily I had the keys to Sophie's car who had said I could go home whenever I'd like.

I searched through my purse trying to find my phone before realizing I had left it at the cafe, realizing that was probably why I hadn't gotten a call from my parents to wish me happy birthday. I would just have to grab it from the cafe on my way home, otherwise my overprotective parents would freak out and call the cops or even show up at my apartment. I said a quick goodbye to my friends and after assuring them I would get home safely and promising to call them when I got home, I was finally out of that party.

After being cramped in a house that smelt like booze, smoke and sweat the chilly night air that caressed my skin was an absolute blessing. I sucked in a huge amount of fresh air, getting strange looks from the people who'd ventured outside of the house, not that it mattered though. I was a strange person, growing up I'd gotten used to the weirded out stares I got thrown my way. All people were different, that was accepted but the results of these differences weren't. The portrayals of them were gawked at, mocked even, especially during our youth.

I drove slowly and carefully to the cafe grabbing my spare set of keys. I got out of the car locking it and getting startled by the confirming beeping sound it made. I quickly let myself into the cafe grabbing my phone and walking back out locking the door. I smiled at my phone when I saw the sweet birthday wishes lighting up the screen.

My happiness was cut short when I suddenly felt an arm go around my waist and a large cold clammy hand clamp onto my face, preventing me from screaming. I struggled against the vile hands trying to get free but the man held me tightly. I felt him tighten his grip, effectively cutting off my air intake causing me to struggle more.

"Stop struggling hot stuff we are going to have so much fun." A croaky voice whispered into me ear. I panicked starting to feel light headed.

The absolute disgust of being touched against my will making my face twist up immediately. It seemed some people didn't understand for it wasn't uncommon for a woman to go through some form of assault through the duration of her life, and not just women but men too. To me it seemed too many of us had gone through it. Whether it had been as small as holding onto our wrist, or grabbing us, or as horrid as sexual assault, it all made you feel filthy. The way his hands gripped me tightly as if I were just an object for him to possess, to grab when he wanted, not a living breathing person.

My panicked state didn't allow me to do much damage, but the one thing that every parent, every book and movie had taught me was the only thing that stood out in my foggy mind, kick him in the groin. My leg raised on its own accord, and I reeled it back only to have the misfortune of kicking his thigh instead, the slight heel pushing into the skin, but the man was adamant on keeping his hold on me. His hand seemed to envelope my whole face now, constricting my breathing and causing my mind to get foggier nearly completely losing focus. I struggled in his hold trying to get his hand off, unintentionally ramming my elbow into his diaphragm.

He wheezed loosening his hold for a moment but tightening it again now pressing painfully onto my nose.

"You're going to regret that you little wrench." He grunts into my ear pulling my body closer to his, my eyes starting to water as oxygen fails to go into my lungs.

"I was going to go easy on you, but not anymore." He whispered into my ear. As if I owed him any compliance, at all. As if I were some doll, some pet that had to behave for him.

My struggles grew more fervent, and I kicked backwards as hard as I could, wiggling in his grasp. A slight 'oomph' sounded behind me, letting me know I'd connected with a weak spot, but he was too drunk to care about pain.

His hold on me grew tighter until it felt like I couldn't breathe, his hand covering my mouth and nose completely, not allowing any space for air to trickle in. If I passed out there was no knowing what he'd do to me, there was no escaping. No one would be out in this time of the night, not in this part of town and the people who would, wouldn't bother to help.

My lungs began to ache, begging for air, my body beginning to grow weak until it was difficult to even wiggle in his grasp.

"That's it sugar, just let go. I'll take care of ya." The man promised falsely, his words nearly falling on deaf ears as I tried once more to elbow him, only for him to squeeze my midriff tighter, until it felt like my ribs would crack.

Black dots begin to appear in my vision my panic not helping me when suddenly the man holding me was ripped off of me. My saviour was dressed in a suit, and towered over my assailant making him seem small and meek, when just moments ago he'd seemed to hold all the power. The man threw his fist into the face of the dirty old man, and I swayed slightly in my woozy state.

A loud crack resonated, ringing in my ears as I stuggle to stay conscious, but even in my panicked state I flinched, my foggy mind only conjuring up how hard it would be to clean the blood off the sidewalk from in front of the cafe. I took deep gasping breaths trying to get large amounts of air into my lungs but my already weak heart wasn't able to handle it, and I fell further into the darkness my legs crumbling under me. Warm strong arms wrapped gently around my waist and pulled me towards a broad firm chest, my head lolling back weightlessly. My eyes opening only to see stormy grey eyes surrounded by thick black lashes gazing deeply into my own, before my eyelids grew much too heavy to keep up. As the darkness sucked me into its safe hold I heard a husky deep voice whispering

"You're safe amica mea."

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Note :

Hello my lovelies, I hope you enjoy reading the book and in the book there is a Latin translation of the phrase my love, keeping in mind that Latin is an extinct language and that now every phrase has many translations the one I picked was "amica mea." Context matters a whole lot, it's like some people call their children honey, and others call their spouse honey. Many people have had an issue with this, truly you can say what you like, but no one can prove anything but if this is going to be a huge problem for you then perhaps this story isn't the best option for you. To the rest I really do hope you enjoy the book.

I woke up in an absolute daze trying to remember why I was sleeping in a dress when everything that happened yesterday came rushing back. That dread that had filled me last night creeping back up in my stomach but I pushed it back down. It was better to treat the incident more robotically, I didn't have much time to worry over it. I fell back into my pillows feeling mentally exhausted. How ever had that man brought me back here? I distinctly remembered passing out.

I peeled the dress off of my body, getting rid of my undergarments and throwing them all into the hamper, after what had happened while I was wearing that dress, I doubted I was ever going to wear it again. I didn't really care if my laundry machine ruined it. I took about as quick a shower as I could after thoroughly brushing my teeth, grimacing when I saw some bruises and handprints on my skin.

A shiver shot through me as I remembered the way his hand had felt on my face, dirty dry skin against my own. I would have to use some concealer to cover the marks up, I really didn't want people asking unnecessary questions. I didn't know the first thing about makeup so usually I relied on Sophie or my mom to both get me my supply and apply it, but today I would have to make do myself. Makeup could be really beautiful if you knew how to apply it properly, I'd always envied people who could. I just didn't have the patience firstly to learn how to put it on or to apply it regularly, so there was no point of me learning it.

I rushed around getting ready for work trying to put socks on while eating a muffin was a lot more trouble than it may have seemed at first. I went to grab my purse and saw my phone that I had dropped last night sitting right under it. A small crack was visible in the corner of the screen, and I made a face remembering why I had dropped it. I promised myself I would talk to Jay and Sophie about this because keeping all this in was horrible for my probably already a little wankered mental state.

I had always been a weird person when it came to trauma, I was either very nonchalant or just loosing it completely. There was no inbetween with me. When I had been 17 and learning how to drive, some idiot had veered out of their lane while texting and hit me head on. The driving instructor had to yank me out of the car, I was completely fine but just unresponsive. He had to call an ambulance to take me to the hospital. I had only recovered when my parents had gotten to the hospital and slowly coaxed me out of shock.

Strangely after last night I just felt a little numb, like I was going through my daily routine but nothing was registering. Surely that was better than being upset over what had happened, but it was just very frustrating to go about life so robotically, feeling so faint and being unable to knock myself out of it.

I rushed into work five minutes late sending a quick wave to Maggie, while tying up an apron. I loved this cafe, but honestly the place opened up much too early and that definitely clashed with my love for sleep. If it just started more in the afternoon then I'd have absolutely nothing to complain about, not that this was ever going to hinder me from loving the place.

The bell rung signaling the day's first customers had come in, I turned to greet them only to find a rambunctious group of boys tumbling in instead of our usual elderly customers this early in the morning. I tended to them ignoring their snarky comments which made me want to tip the hot coffee pot over their heads. But of course I had to hold my violent thoughts in as I would quite probably get arrested for doing so. More frighteningly Maggie would yell at me. She barely ever got mad, but when she did it was terrifying, it was the reason no one dared to misbehave in the cafe. Everyone knew better than to trigger Maggie's wrath.

By the time lunch rolled around I was starved, after just having a muffin for breakfast and running around serving customers I was basically salivating over the baked goods I was bagging for customers. As usual right around lunch, in came Sophie and Jay bickering over something small once again. They fought more than they spoke civilly to each other, and yet they were best friends.

They gave me side hugs, giggling manically when I glared at them as they'd caused me to spill some of the coffee I was holding. Cleaning that up I shooed them away to the back room. They were better far away from messes, they wouldn't be any help even if they tried. After cleaning the spilt coffee, I made my way into the back room, after doing a quick sweep of the cafe with my eyes to ensure the few customers didn't need anything.

I had promised myself that I would tell them the story, and I did but of course I should have been more prepared for their reactions. Jay actually scooped me out of my seat putting me in his lap while rocking back and forth shrieking. He curled me up on his lap, only serving to make me mourn my short height of 5'4 more than I already did. His voice was so shrill it was indecipherable as to what he was saying. Sophie threw herself at both of us, enveloping us both in a giant hug, murmuring her thanks that I was alright under her breath. I was simply surprised the chair didn't break. I finally managed to yell for Maggie over Jay's screams and she, God bless her, got me out of their mess. Although Jay was very reluctant to let me go, his hand patting my hair messily as Maggie got me settled into a chair away from them so I could explain what had happened to her.

I quickly explained what I had told them to Maggie and she silently hugged me and of course the doofuses joined in acting as if I had just woken up from a decade long coma. Maggie tried to convince me to tell my parents about the incident, but it would terrify them and they'd surely insist on me coming back home. That wasn't possible, the semester had already started, so they would worry unnecessarily.

They all urged me to report it to the police, but truthfully I just wanted to forget that it had ever happened. It was very difficult to not think about it as it was, having to recount it to the cops and go to court for it would make the experience worse for me. Surely my parents too would then find out. But then I couldn't be selfish, I should report it to prevent the man from attacking someone else. Perhaps they wouldn't be as lucky as me. A shiver passed through me as I thought of what could have happened if my saviour hadn't come in time.

When everyone had calmed down and Jay had completely assaulted me, which was supposedly his way of checking for injuries, they finally all sat there smirking while I looked at them horrified. They had all finally cracked, I wished they wouldn't have all gone simultaneously insane, but I couldn't control that. Jay held on for longer than I expected, I had thought he would go insane about three years ago, right around when I'd met him.

"What?" I said thoroughly creeped out after they just sat there smirking for a steady minute.

"So knight in shining armour ay?" Sophie said still smirking and Jay made hooting sounds while Maggie just observed me. I flushed slightly. Her gaze soft but calculating. It was impossible to hide anything from Maggie.

Trying to change the topic to something that had been afflicting me since I woke up.

"How did he get into my house? I don't know about you but that's a little freaky, how did he know where I lived?"

"Darling calm down he probably checked from your phone which unluckily you don't have a pass code on otherwise you would probably wake up in his house with him tending to you with his shirt off." I stared at Jay, wrinkling my nose slightly grossed out.

"What would he even be tending to, I don't have any visible injuries, a runny nose?" I ask and Jay's nose scrunched in distaste at unromantic statement.

"He probably found that note on your phone, the one titled for emergencies that has all your information on it, where you live, first priority contact." Sophie says nonchalantly making my jaw drop.

"How do you know about that?" I asked in a hushed voice.

"Once again no passcode." Sophie said and I frowned at the floor, after once getting locked out of an iPod for not putting the passcode in correct I'd sworn never to use passcodes again. That note had been put in incase I ever lost my phone and it was found by somebody intent on returning it, or if I got into an accident.

"He probably got your keys from your purse, honey you really shouldn't be questioning him he did save you." Maggie said.

"But you guys didn't see him fight, god he was ruthless. It was horrifying." I added feeling like if I didn't tell them they would probably start naming our imaginary children.

"He was saving you."

"No well yeah but he almost killed the guy." I shivered.

"Raine you were about to pass out and to you even a slap is violent." Sophie said rolling her eyes.

"I know what I saw you know what lets check the camera he was horrifying not that I'm

not grateful. But I really wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of his punches. Plus that way I can report that creep who attacked me." I told them proud of my idea.

"Yes please I'd love to see the man who saved you I bet he's gorgeous." Jay said dreamily and I scrunched my nose at him, was that all he thought about.

Maggie quickly rewinded the cameras recording to around the time I had come in. We watched me walk in and the creep sneak in behind me, Jay letting out a shrill scream that had me rubbing my ears to stop the ringing, he had great lungs. My hands grew clammy as we watched him drag me out roughly and Jay grabbed me into his arms again as if I was still getting hurt and although it was sweet I had enough of him groping me today. I quickly struggled out of his hold glaring at him while he pouted letting out what I deemed to be a menacing snarl for good measure. I was basically terrifying.

We saw silver eyes run upto where I was, I hadn't notched how large he was or the way he moved last night, with a beast like precision, an animal hunting its prey with absolute natural but terrifying grace. We watched as he ripped the man off of me. And I was right, he was absolutely ruthless he even had Sophie, the most violent person I know wincing. But as he turned to check on me all four of us gasped.

I hadn't realized how attractive the man was yesterday. I also happened to conveniently not notice that the man who saved me was the most dangerous man in the country, probably even the continent. The man who owned most of the town, probably even most of North America, and was feared by many, Xavier Night.

We watched him as he finally let go of the limp man, and made his way towards me, reaching me just as I had begun to collapse. His arms wrapped securely around my waist tugging my small nearly lifeless form into his chest. His eyes glancing me over, checking for damage before he tugged me closer to him, mumbling something to me softly. He picked me up bridal style and stormed out of the cameras reach, gazing down at me in his arms.

After a few minutes Maggie finally shut the recording off. They all turned to stare at me.

"Okay so not a knight in shining armour." Jay said finally breaking the silence.

"More like mafia in a well tailored suit." Sophie murmured.

"Raine, we owe a lot to that man for saving you, but you need to stay away from him, only the lord knows what runs through his head." Maggie said and I nodded in response fully planning to sprint the other way if I saw this man in public.

This man wasn't some ordinary gang leader, nobody could prove his work was illegal. He owned the largest company in the country but there were so many theories of how he got there. He was the type of man your parents told you bedtime stories about to scare you and keep you on the right path. Although most were simply theories, but there were actually witnesses of him killing his own father. Although in court he had somehow managed to prove it was self defence though according to the witnesses it was anything but. Other recounts of his brutality too existed, some terrifying but others most definitely fictional.

After forcing me to promise them all about ten times that I would never go near that man they all finally left me and Maggie and I were able to get back to work.

They all sat around me as we called the police, Maggie had shut the cafe down for a few hours. I spoke to the operator, having to explain to them I was safe at the moment, the incident had taken place last night. Our town was normally a very safe place, to the point where most people didn't bother to lock doors, so the operator didn't know how to handle the situation. The poor woman sounded more panicked than me even. She told me the police would be there shortly, a cruiser having conveniently been patrolling in the area.

"Did you get a chance to hit him?" Sophie asked and I nodded.

"I hurt him more than he did me." I told her making her smile in approval.

"We shouldn't have let you leave that party alone. I felt so bad last night, even before you told us about this, because we'd ruined your birthday." Sophie says, looking down sadly.

"You didn't ruin my birthday, I'm not a huge fan of them anyway. But none of this was any of yours fault, incidents like this are always the attacker's fault alone." I tell her and she nods, leaning forward from her seat to give me a hug, and I hug her back.

A knock sounds on the glass doors, and voices call out for us to open the doors, telling us they are officers. Maggie gets up to go open the door and we all trail behind her. Unlocking it, she looks at their badges that they've held up before letting them in.

"Are you Raine Pierce?" The blonde man asks me, looking almost too young to be an officer, his partner a man with dark curly hair and chocolate coloured skin, looking to be his supervisor.

"That's me." I say and he nods introducing himself and his partner to us and shaking our hands.

"We're going to have to speak to you privately Ms.Peirce." The older officer tells me and I nod, showing them the way to the back room.

We all take a seat around the table, and get behind me by asking me about what I was doing last night, and about the scene of the incident, before asking me about to recount the details. They listen carefully, the blonde man taking furious notes while the other scribbles only a few things down as I speak, neither of them interrupting me. After I've told them about what had happened, I show them the camera footage.

"Ms.Peirce we are going to send out an arrest warrant for this man. We will make sure to contact you when we've found him. If you happen to ever see him anywhere, call us immediately. If you need people to speak to about the incident, which would be a good idea because I'm sure it was traumatizing, here's a little package with different people you can contact. I'm very glad you are safe, but god forbid if something like this happens again, make sure to contact us as soon as possible. It gives the attacker less time to escape." The older officer hands me a little pamphlet from one of his pockets. I grab onto it, thanking them both and they shake my hand once more before they leave.

Although Maggie wishes for me to go home and rest, I need the distraction so I ask for her to reopen the cafe. Hesitantly she opens it to customers again, and in just a few minutes customers are filing in again.

I busy myself with serving the customers, even getting in a few book orders. It wasn't often for people to buy books, and usually those who did went to Maggie for help. I guess the constant mumbling to myself made me look a little crazy and made people hesitant to approach me. I usually was quite busy with making drinks too admittedly. Time passed by quickly as I made drinks and baked goods, their scents wafting throughout the cafe.

The day was almost over, only about twenty minutes left to closing time and most people had cleared out. I had just given the last order of drinks and a person had accidentally spilled some of their chocolate mocha. At least they had had the decency to let me know. I quickly grabbed a cloth to wipe the spill when the bell rung signalling a customer had come in. I was furiously working at the chocolate syrup and cream that had spilled when I heard footsteps come towards me.

I looked up, blowing my hair out of my face and felt my heart stop as my eyes connected with stormy grey ones, which just happened to be staring very intensely, at me.