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CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE.

JACQUELINE'S POV.

Rosalie's laughter echoed softly in my ears as I adjusted the temperature of the bathwater. I smiled.

It felt so nice to see her like that and even to see her altogether, and right now, she was mine.

I smiled.

I was done with the water, making sure it was all warm and would heal her all whole, I returned to the room with a towel around my neck.

"All set," I announced to my dear and moved closer to her on the bed where she was sitting.

"Allow me to guide you into the bathroom, my lady," I spoke to her stylishly with a bow, and I pulled out my hand towards her.

She gave me a wary look but allowed me to guide her away from the bed, saying, "Of course, good sir."

She placed her hand on mine and I pulled her hand to my lips to drop her a peck on it. Then I bent over and scooped her in my arms.

"Jacqueline!" She shouted and laughed.

I busted out laughing myself and took her to the bathroom with the duvet she wrapped around her body, sweeping the floor behind us.

I dropped her in the tub immediately after I stepped into the bathroom, and her soft sigh of relief as the heat hit her made me smile.

"Stay here and enjoy," I said, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face. "I'll take care of breakfast, then return to you to finish my job in here."

Her lips curled into a small smile, and she nodded. "You're spoiling me, you know, and it would be bad to get used to this. I don't want to miss you too much if we're apart."

"That's the idea, sweetie. I want you to miss everything about me if you don't see me for a second." I replied to her grinning.

"Just go." She pushed me away slightly, and I chuckled.

"Yes, I'm leaving. Don't miss me."

"You wish."

I kept on chucking as I left for the room. I sat at the breakfast table and picked up my phone to call one of my guards. "Get breakfast in here for myself and your future Luna."

"Yes, my alpha."

I dropped the call after his response and I got up from the seat, eager to return to the bathroom to my dear.

When I returned to check on her, she was leaning back against the tub's edge, her eyes closed and her breathing was calm. It was laced with a smile on her lips.

"You'll wrinkle if you stay too long," I teased, earning a sleepy laugh from her.

I sat down by the side of the tub and ran my fingers into her hair, "Are you dizzy already? You just woke up."

"I'm not like you, who have a rock as a body. My skin is strictly fleshy and soft, which means, I get tired when I should. You, I bet you slept for only a second or two." She replied, still sleepy.

"Hey! I slept for long, at least for two to three hours. Stop making it seem as if I never slept at all."

"Of course." Her head was beginning to drop on its own. She was dozing off.

"Hey, sweetie," I scooped water in my palms and poured it on her head down to her face, "Wake up, you have to eat, then you can sleep for as long as you want."

She opened her eyes and smiled, "Okay, I just have to get off and eat, then I will fly to the bed, my comfort zone."

I nodded.

She stood up from the tub and I helped her out. I grabbed a clean towel and dried her body, which she let me with no complaint. I then picked up a bathrobe and wore it for her before kissing her on her lips lightly. "You're alluring." I declared to her.

"I know." She replied and I scoffed.

"Let's just go."

I bent over and carried her in my arms. I took her to the room and helped her to the breakfast table, where breakfast had already been served.

She sat down.

"Enjoy."

Once she settled down for the breakfast on the table before her, I excused myself to the bathroom to shower.

I stripped myself from my shorts, which had been the only piece of clothing on me and got under the shower, using cold water, for it was almost afternoon, and the sun was scorching.

The cold water hit me and I was relieved. That was exactly what I wanted, and I was eased from some stress. Then calm visited me, and I shut my eyes to welcome it fully in myself.

*You're thinking too much again, and you know when you do, I'm always restless.* Jack's voice grumbled in my head, he was annoyed with me.

*This is our first official day with our mate, and all you have to do is stand under the shower to think nonstop, keeping our mate waiting alone in the room and keeping me restless. How cool of you?!*

I sighed. I knew I was not thinking it all out directly, but I was worried about a few things. About Carl. About my throne. About my people. About Rosalie. And finally, about her pups.

'What if I lose one of them in the long run?' I couldn't get the thought off and now was the time I could think of it.

*I can't help it,* I muttered to Jack, before running a hand through my wet hair. *There's too much to think about that I can't start listing.*

*Like Carl?* Jack questioned.

*Yes,* I admitted. *I also need to check on him to know if he's okay now. After breakfast, I'll head over. To make sure he's healing properly and that no damage done to him.*

*And the elders?* He pointed out another of my big problems.

I sighed heavily. *Yes, that too, it's next on the list. I need to know who else is plotting against me.*

Jack growled low in agreement. *I can't help but think they're foolish. How can they think they can take you down? They've forgotten who we are.*

A faint smile tugged at my lips. *Maybe, maybe not. But I need more strength right now. I need to think of a possible way to shut all my enemies out before they'll have the time to come here to me.*

*You'll figure it out,* Jack assured me. *You always do.*

I let his words settle over me, and I felt more of my stress washing away. I smiled, *Thank you, Jack.* I don't know what I would have done without him.

The water began to lose its sweetness when I had not much to think about again, and I badly wanted to return to the room to see my mate on my bed, sleeping off her tiredness.

I stepped out of the shower and cleaned the water on my body with the towel before wrapping another around my waist.

I stepped out of the bathroom.

The faint scent of breakfast still lingered in the air when I stepped out, and I ran a hand through my damp hair, glancing toward the table, expecting to find Rosalie halfway through her meal or done with it.

But to my surprise, the plates were untouched, and there she sat, legs tucked beneath her, watching me with a neutral expression.

I became alert and questioned her, "Is anything the problem."

"Yes. You spent so much time in the bathroom and I'm hungry. I'm waiting for you."

"Uh? For me?"

She nodded like a child, and I bit into a smile.

My eyes showed, "What's that?" I pointed.

"What? Nothing."