She pulled on the rubber band and gave it one last knot before placing her braid back on her back. She did not feel like putting her hair in a ponytail as she was already feeling like a headache was coming her way. The braid sounded much more coming.

She sighed and moved out of the room not bothering to pick up her bag because someone was going to get it for her anyway. Adaline did not know if it was just because she was human or if the staff was trained in this way but they never let her pick anything.

​​

Sometimes the made that came to wake her when her aunt did not placed the slippers in Adelines feet no matter how many times she said no.

She sighed when she did not see anyone are the dining tables. Perhaps she was just early.

"Good morning,"

She gasped and jumped at the voice not expecting anyone to be there. She nodded and wished jenna back. "Good morning."

Jenna smiled and took a seat at the very back of the table. "Would you like me to call them for breakfast? If you tap on the table twice someone would come from the kitchen."

She raised her eyebrows slightly at the information. Adeline thought that they came when the master of the house called them.

With an encouraging look from Jenna she tapped twice on the table and immediately A maid appeared. "Tea madam? Would you like to have breakfast?"

Adeline smiled with a little visible panic on her face. "Just tea. Ginger one."

The maid nodded to her and looked that Jenna who gave her order after which she went back inside.

"Adeline," Jenna narrowed her eyes slightly at her, "has the maid ever tried to hurt you?"

"No, no," adaline quickly shook her head, "no. Why?"

"Because you talk to her with panic. What was the panic for?"

Adeline but her lip slightly. The older woman was correct. What was the panic for? "I don't know." She said honestly.

Jenna stared at her, keenly observing her before sighing. "If this consoles you then if the maid ever tries to harm you, remember that everyone from the shape shifting community no matter how young or old with the after her life."

"That does not help." Because somehow it had only managed to scare her more.

Jenna hummed. "Let's leave that then," her eyes moved behind adaline and added and followed them. The maid had arrived and she served both of them tea before moving back to the kitchen.

"There are a lot of rumours that I have been hearing," Jenna began, "would you mind if I talked to them with you?"

The word no was on the tip of the tongue but she wanted to be polite with the woman. Also the fact that genre was practically the age of a grandmother and she would never be implied or mannerless with her own.

"I think I could." No, she did not. She really wished that Korr was here.

Adeline could feel Jenna reading her again. "Let me tell you something else instead," she slid the plate of biscuit to adaline, "when I was newly mated or perhaps I should say when it was my time of mateship we were not really given the importance that we are now. Of course mates were important but the females one did not have much respect given that the the comparison we fell behind." She sighed,

"Do you know how many times I could have let people walk over me? The fact that my husband and son ambassadors is partly because of me, because of the fact that I help in changing their mind, because I stood up for myself."

Adeline soflty questioned, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because Queen or not, I do not want you to be someone that people can walk over. If you do not want me to talk about something tell me that yourself and do not wait for my son next time." She chided.

She might have chided adenine but Adeline felt that have words were much Harsh. Even though she understood her reason for saying them. "I get it."

"You don't." Jenna shook her head. "Because if you did then the rumours but not be surfacing around."

" What rumors?" Her ear perked up.

Jenna did not answer immediately. In fact Adeline could see that she did not appreciate added in asking about the rumours.

"Put him in his place." She said instead and that took Adeline completely by surprise.

"What?" Adeline muttered, "who?"

Jenna took a biscuit, "I do not know what happened between you but I know that you are strong enough so do not let him," she broke the biscuit into two, "break you."

"He won't break me." Adeline added instantly feeling the familiar need inside her to defend Xavier.

"Good, that you know that." Jenna took a bite of her biscuit. "he won't hurt you, so don't back down."

Why was Jenna talking about this? "But why are you talking about this?" Jenna should have no concerns with her to be honest.

"Because—" she stopped and cleared her throat, "You are my family and I am not going to stand someone talking down to my granddaughter."

She had already accepted Adeline as her granddaughter? She was the legal ward of her aunt but did not make her understand how Jenna could be so accommodating to the whole idea of it. Being possessive to family members did not sit well here as the reason.

"You think of me as family?" She whispered shyly, scared of the rejection that might be coming her way.

"Yes, I do," Jenna admitted, "family is not blessed to everyone but when it is given to you accepted. I have accepted you Adeline's and the choice of whom you accept of your family is with you."

Adeline looked away from the old woman and focused on her tea. What does it feel like she had some hidden meaning there?