Our Stars that dance

THE CAFE

I woke up at seven and was late for the opening time of my cafe which I inherited from my mother. The cafe was supposed to be opened at five while I prepared all the cookies and sweets for the day, as well as the drinks.

Taking a long stride and munching on the apple that Dad threw at me as I passed me by the kitchen. Due to walking so fast and straining my leg, I could feel the pain creeping up.

After twenty minutes, I reached the cafe, and it was already open. The menu board was outside written with colorful chalk and even the table and chairs were perfectly laid out. Sighing and calming myself that it was okay, and it will be a great day.

The bell tingled when it opened, and I saw five people in line. Neveah was already by the counter and taking in the order while Mathew and Jenny were making the order, shuffling here and there.

“Thank you, guys. Oh god, I slept too long.” Putting my jacket on the hanger, I grabbed the pastel green apron and put it in.

“You’re welcome, Lula. It’s okay as you looked very tired yesterday. I came here at 5:30 and Jenny came later then helped me to bake things and get ready for the day.”

“Thank you so so much. I don’t know how I would even survive without you guys.”

They had been with me since I took over the cafe and they taught me how to run and do things around here. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to keep this place going on which is mom’s precious place.

After her death, it was a big hit on us especially the father who lost his mate in a car accident and he just...became detached from his three children who also needed him.

Without anyone to run, this place was going to close down but I couldn’t let that happen. Running a cafe and basking under the smell of the coffee, Mom sure does love coffee as much as she loved Dad.

I stood up and asked my mother’s worker which are Neveah and Jenny who are in Thirties now, to teach me everything to run this place and keep this legacy my mother started to keep on going.

“I need to take a bathroom break. Be right back in ten minutes.” She patted and rubbed my back as I took over her place.

“Good morning, Olivia. Can I have your order?” I looked at the brightly ginger girl with a nerdy glass that enhanced her beauty. There is always someone who can elevate their beauty just because of the perfect glasses.

“Uhmm...Can I have vanilla latte but with extra Vanilla?” She pushed her glass up as she looked at the menu board ahead of me. I smiled and tapped on the screen and asked her to wait for five minutes for her order to be done.

I smiled and greeted the next person, doing the same thing until all the people were finished. Or I thought I would have some rest as another group of guys came in.

Leon, my second elder brother, along with his six friends came in.

“Well hello sister.” Leon kept his palms on the table and leaned forward with his annoying smirk. I rolled my eyes and smiled at his antics.

“This isn’t a proper conduct of an owner to roll her eyes at her dearest customer.”

Leon and I have a one-year age gap, unlike my older brother who is twenty-six now. As we both have a small age gap, we were closer than we were with our oldest brother.

“What do you want?”

“Can I have a Latte without sugar? And...” He gave me the order as he turned his back to his group of friends. I liked his friends as they always treated me good.

“Hi, Lula. You look pretty today.” Jason, my brother’s childhood best friend as usual flirted with me which always irked Leon all the time.

I smiled and proceeded to take the order as I ignored his comment while he basked under Leon’s glare which he was used to.

Leon shoved Jason who raised his arms in surrender not before irritating Leon by throwing his winks at me. I scoffed and giggled at them.

Leon cursed about his best friend under his breath and turned to me.

“Lula, you know that we are having a family dinner with grandparents today so I will come and get you right before the closing time.”

My paternal grandparents. After my grandfather gave his duties to my father, they left for a world tour and pretty much travelled around the world all year alone. After three years, we got to see them again and the last time we met was at the funeral of my mother.

“Should I bake some dessert and bring it?”

“Yes, Megan told me to tell you to make one after she called you multiple times and seems forgot to check her messages. Also, she said that she will handle the others.” I quickly grabbed the phone out of my jacket and saw two new messages.

The notification and volume were turned off, that’s why I couldn’t get to her.

Replying to her that I got it, I turned to Leon who had his hips rested on the counter and sipping his coffee whilst his friends were at the table near the window.

“Don’t you have training to be?” I looked up to the clock which was hung at the top of the coffee machines, and it was seven past half. Usually, the pack warriors start their training at 8. His undisturbed eyes glanced at the clock and shrug. What does that mean?

Leon, I know so far, is a punctual guy who would arrive ten minutes ahead of the designated time. And the walk to the training is about twenty minutes which means he has to go now.

If he was a little bit late, he would stress it over. He stepped aside as he walked back to his friends’ table.

“Okay, here are all of your orders,” I called out their names. They walked up as each of them grabbed their drinks and said thanks with smiles on their face.

“Alpha’s heir Mason is coming back.”

I was checking the orders when Leon suddenly stopped and dropped the announcement.

“I thought he won't be here until next year.”

It was mandatory for every heir of alpha, beta and gamma to take an examination which mainly checked their mental ability, defence, knowledge and battle skills.

It was an honor if pack got their heirs through the rigorous test as they are given a chance to study and traning under the guidance of Alpha King and his beta and gamma.

They only pick random numbers based on how much they wanted to train.

Last year, sixteen packs got an opportunity while before last year, it was six only.

My older brother Luca and Gamma Sam had their training over there for three years in the royal palace while the alpha’s heir had to be five years.

Mason was seventeen years old when he got in and was away from the pack.

That might be another reason why both Grandpa and Grandma are coming back.

But I couldn't wait for my other best friend to come home and throughout the day, I was in good mood and excitement to see him again.

What does he look like? Does he still have his dorky glasses and braces?