Third Person’s POV;
“Rose, do your parents give you something strong to drink? Like something actually, a bit bitter and bad to taste?” Elijah asked and Rose’s eyes widened in shock.
‘Hell! Is he talking about the absolutely horrible-tasting herbal tea that my mother forces me to drink calling it nutritional and important for woman’s health? but I can’t tell him that. No matter how attracted I am to him, he is still a stranger’ Rose thought deeply before giving away any answer.
“I don’t know” Rose’s answer wasn’t clear enough but her expressions were speaking otherwise.
“Think about it, Rose. It is the kind of drink that if you mix it in any strong liquid, for example coffee, you won’t be able to taste coffee” He replied while grabbing both of her shoulders gently, looking at her with concern and care.
Rose was affected by his care but his questions were also hitting right on the target.
‘How the hell does he know this? Is he stalking me or something? I remember the shock I felt when I mixed it with coffee during my last semester and I couldn’t taste the coffee at all. Bloody hell, even after I added the whole packet, I couldn’t taste coffee in that drink at all. Not to forget, like an idiot, I drank it too and the after-effect of drinking the high dose of caffeine kept me awake for two nights straight” She was lost in her thoughts for a moment but her eyes eventually fell on him again.
Looking at his expression, she could tell he was truly concerned for her, hence, she decided to tell him about the herbal tea.
“My mom gives me this herbal drink for women’s health but she said it is one hundred percent pure with no side effects” Rose replied awkwardly and the answer made him stunned.
‘F**k, she has been consuming wolfsbane her entire life’ Elijah thought in worry.
“Don’t drink it from now on” Elijah ordered as his tone hardened with no room for argument but Rose won’t be rose without an argument.
“What? Why? Do you want me to get old soon?” Rose asked offended.
“What?” Elijah was surprised for a moment.
“Yeah, my mom said it boosts collagen in your skin and also helps with the woman’s health. Do you want me to elaborate on later?” Rose asked with a sly smile.
“No, thank you. But don’t drink it from today itself, please Rose, listen to me for once” He said while cupping her face and begging her for it.
‘If he will call my name with so many emotions, I would literally climb Mount Everest for him if he requests’ Rose thought and grinned at her own thought.
“Okay, but only if you tell me why” She demanded, and Elijah sighed in exhaustion.
‘I need answers, he just met me yesterday, he can’t expect me to listen to every single thing he said’ Rose thought although she wasn’t sure if she was capable of denying him for anything.
“Just trust me on this. Hmm. I will tell you everything when it’s the right time. Please, just don’t drink that tea from now on” He begged again and Rose took a step back to get away from his overwhelming aura.
“You can’t expect me to follow you blindly when I don’t even know you properly” She said staring straight into his eyes. Elijah took a step forward in response and asked,
“Do I look like someone who can hurt you?” he asked staring back into her shining emerald globes.
“I don’t trust you” She said looking away.
He grabbed her chin and made her look into his eyes again, “Say that again while looking into my eyes”
“Leave me” She pushed him and looked away again to avoid eye contact with him.
“So, you do trust me” He said, folding his hands to his chest.
‘I have no idea why I have this blind trust in you when I know you are nothing but a stranger!’ Rose thought in confusion as her mind was running a mile in a minute.
“Why can’t you tell me the truth?” Rose demanded again.
“Because you don’t believe me yet. Let us build a trustful relationship before sharing such information” Elijah spoke honestly but the answer wasn’t satisfactory enough for Rose.
“I don’t know. I can’t promise about that” She said while keeping a strand of her behind her ear avoiding eye contact with him again.
“You look adorable when you blush” he replied with a flirty smile.
She decided not to reply or she will end up blushing even more.
For a moment there was a peaceful silence until Elijah decided to break it.
“Well, as you saved my life and did a good job with forgiving people. Maybe I should reward you” Elijah said changing the topic in a new direction.
“Reward? What kind of reward?” She asked with narrowed eyes.
“Which kind do you want?” He asked while moving down until their faces were on the same level.
He intentionally glanced at her lips to spice things up more.
She pushed him playfully before adding, “I don’t want anything”
“But I am willing to give your three wishes. I have never given such a high number to anyone before. Special offer only for my mate” He replied playfully.
“You are standing half naked in front of me, wearing the joggers I provided. Do you really think you are capable enough of granting people’s wishes?” Rose asked with a mocking smile.
“Have you forgotten about the part that I am the werewolf king? Money comes side by side with the word Royal” he replied with a smirk.
“Are you really rich?” She asked, dying with curiosity.
‘I must ask Olivia and Theodore about Smith family’ Rose noted in her head.
“Why don’t you go up for breakfast and do your research about the Smith family?” He asked making Rose shocked.
“Can you hear thoughts too?” Rose asked in utter curiosity.
“No, but I can read the face of my very own mate” He replied with his bright infectious smile.
“Anyways, let me change first” She said swatting his away.
She moved towards her closet. After a little argument with herself, she decided to wear a black fitted top made with thin knit with a nude color baggy jogger.
She took her body wash, scrub, shaving kit as well as hair care kit while moving out of the room towards the bathroom.
“Wait for me and don’t open the door for anyone whatsoever, rest for the time being” Rose commanded.
“Roger that” he replied with a mocking salute.
She took a warm shower, cleaned herself thoroughly, and shaved before coming out.
When she came out, she was startled by Elijah standing right in front of the door.
“Ohh, you startled me” She kept her hand on her chest.
“Sorry” Elijah replied sheepishly.
“I told you to rest. What are you doing here?” She asked trying to move forward but Elijah kept on blocking her way, instead of answering her question Elijah said something else entirely.
“You look hot. A bit too hot for your own good” He said seriously while checking her out from top to bottom.
Rose cheeks turned pink instantly.
“You shouldn’t wear something so fitted. It will attract bugs” He added in all seriousness and his expressions were looking way too cute to Rose.
“Huh? Bugs? You mean guys?” she asked amused by the comparison.
“They are bugs to me. Wandering around my personal candy” he added invading her personal space, keeping his hands on both sides of the doorframe caging her in.
“You need to stop claiming me. It’s boring” She replied rolling her eyes and pushing him lightly to get away from him.
‘It’s a big fat lie! I love it when you call me yours and the fact is driving me insane!’ She said inside her head.
“Can’t promise that” he replied just like she did before.
“But honestly, it should be a little loose” he added again following her to her closet.
“Oh, stop being my father” she replied annoyedly.
“But I would love to be our children’s father” he replied smirking.
And just like before her cheeks turned instant red, she cleared her throat, turned around and to change the topic asked the first logical thing that came to her mind,
“Why were you hovering around the bathroom?”
Elijah looked a bit depressed when he asked,
“Can you do me a favor, Rose?”