Chapter 72

I woke up to the gentle tug at my waist, his hand brushing softly against my stomach as if it belonged there. His warmth enveloped me, and I shivered as he shifted closer, his nose grazing the curve of my neck.

A trail of soft kisses followed, feather-light against my skin, sending sparks racing down my spine.

"How are you, my Luna?" he whispered, his voice a low, intimate rumble that sent heat blooming through me.

My chest tightened at the question. The way he said it, like it was the most natural thing in the world, made me feel things I probably shouldn't.

"I just woke up," I mumbled, trying to sound casual, though my heart was pounding.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.

"I guess," I admitted.

"You were restless all night," he said. "But when I held you, you calmed down. I hope you don't mind."

Mind? I could barely process anything but the warmth of his arms around me. There was no way I could ever mind.

"I must have been feeling unsettled," I murmured, trying to brush it off.

"You don't need to explain," he said softly. "I understand. After breakfast, we'll leave for a place where you'll feel safe."

His words eased some of the tension in my chest. I did want to leave this house, to escape the danger and unease lurking in its shadows. But the thought of leaving my mother behind made my stomach twist. She would be an easy target, left vulnerable without me here.

"No," I said firmly. "I'll go, but only if my mother comes too."

He paused for a moment, his hand stilling on my waist. "You are my Luna," he said with conviction. "I'll listen to you. Besides, you would only worry if she stayed behind. She'll come with us."

Relief washed over me as his words sank in.

"I'll take a shower, and then we'll have breakfast while your mother finishes preparing," Rome said, his voice soft yet commanding. "I spoke to her yesterday, and she has agreed to live with us."

He sealed his words with a lingering kiss on my lips before heading to the bathroom.

Still feeling the warmth of his kiss, I got up and went to check on the butler's progress. Most of my belongings were already packed neatly, leaving only a few essentials like toiletries that could be replaced later.

Rome returned from the shower in record time, his hands tousling his wet hair. My gaze moved involuntarily, trailing down his damp chest to the perfectly defined abs glistening under the soft morning light.

Damn. This man was a sight to behold. And the best part? He was mine.

I didn't realize I was staring—no, ogling, until his deep chuckle snapped me out of it.

"I belong to you, darling," he teased, his lips curving into an amused smirk.

Heat flooded my cheeks, and I felt the unmistakable sting of embarrassment. What the hell was I doing drooling over him like some lovestruck teenager? Unable to muster a response, I bolted into the bathroom, mumbling something incoherent on the way.

Once under the hot spray of water, I tried to drown out the wild thoughts swirling in my mind. But no matter how hard I tried, images of Rome—his smirk, his hands, his everything, kept creeping back, making my pulse race all over again.

Shit! Why did I feel so embarrassed thinking about him like that? He is my man. He belongs to me, and I belong to him. It's completely normal to have these thoughts.

Determined to shake off the nerves, I finished my shower quickly and wrapped myself in a towel. When I stepped out of the bathroom, it felt like I had forgotten he was in the room.

Rome's eyes immediately raked over me, lingering on my exposed skin. Wherever his gaze traveled, it left a trail of heat that made me feel undeniably sexy, even dressed in nothing but a towel.

He cleared his throat loudly, breaking the tension, and stood up abruptly from the bed. "I'll let you get dressed," he mumbled, practically bolting out of the room like his body was on fire.

I couldn't help the giggle that escaped me. The most powerful Alpha King had just fled from his own woman. Maybe we needed to start sharing a room permanently. This mate bond was making it impossible to stay away from him for too long. I knew he felt the same, the yearning was mutual.

I threw on a sweatshirt and sweatpants, choosing comfort over formality. The pack would have to get used to my style eventually. Once dressed, I sat on the bed, towel in hand, trying to dry my hair.

Suddenly, warm hands covered mine, gently taking the towel away.

"Let me dry your hair," Rome said softly.

I could only nod, stunned by the tenderness in his voice.

He switched on the hairdryer, the warm air brushing against my scalp as he worked through my hair. His movements were so gentle, so meticulous, that I couldn't help but wonder if he had done this before.

The thought of him drying another woman's hair stirred a sharp pang of jealousy in my chest. He was mine. I didn't want anyone else to have shared this kind of intimacy with him.

"No, I've never dried anyone's hair before," he said suddenly, as if reading my mind.

I froze. "Did you just read my mind?"

"No," he chuckled, "but the smell of jealousy was starting to fill the room."

Jealousy? Could he really smell that?

'Yes, he can,' Sami, my wolf, chimed in suddenly. 'He can also smell arousal, so keep that in mind.'

'Excuse me? You're just telling me this now?' I scolded her internally. 'Shouldn't this be like Wolf 101?'

'Well, you didn't ask,' she replied with a hint of sarcasm.

'Where have you even been?'

'Sleeping. I'll be here when you need me. Otherwise, I'll just watch... and sleep,' she said nonchalantly.

"What did your wolf say?" Rome asked, pulling me from my conversation with Sami.

"Wait, how did you know I was speaking to her?"

He smirked. "I have a wolf too, remember?"

"Oh," I laughed nervously, trying to cover my embarrassment. "Right. I kind of forgot about that."

"Don't be embarrassed," he said reassuringly. "This world is new to you. It makes sense you still have a lot to learn." He switched off the dryer and ran his fingers gently through my hair. "There. All done. Let's go eat."

Before I could respond, he grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen, his grip firm yet comforting.