"Umm... Aunt Norma was quite upset about how everything ended," Aisha admitted. She couldn’t et his eyes, instead fiddling nervously with the edge of her scarf. "She was really looking forward to our marriage." A faint, remorseful smile touched her lips. "Anyways, I made sure she wouldn’t bla you for any of it. I was the one, who from the beginning, was... selfish."
Karn’s expression remained unreadable. He shifted his weight, glancing back at the glass entrance of the hospital. "I have to go inside now. Can’t leave Juniper alone for long," he said, his tone flat. "Take care, Aisha."
He turned to leave, but Aisha’s soft voice stopped him again, laden with obvious guilt.
"Karn... I’m so sorry. Again," she whispered.
He paused, not turning around, and let out a quiet sigh. "Don’t say sorry all the ti," Karn advised, his voice firr now. "It’s already over, Aisha. There’s no use dwelling on the past and feeling wrong about it."
With that final piece of advice, he walked inside the hospital. Aisha stood alone for a long mont, watching his retreating figure until he disappeared from view, before finally turning and walking away.
Karn paused on the lower edge of the bed and saw Juniper was awake. She lay still in the bed, her gaze looked distant. Wilder was leaning over her, carefully checking her vitals and listening to her chest with a stethoscope.
Wilder straightened up, pulling the cold tal earpieces from his ears. "Everything seems fine now," he told Karn as he offered a small, reassuring smile. "She must eat. Start with sothing very light, like broth or rice."
Suddenly, Juniper turned her head, fixing her eyes on the doctor. Her voice, though weak, carried a spark of impatience. "Can I just go ho?"
"You can, once this glucose drip is finished," Wilder replied calmly, gesturing toward the IV bag hanging beside the bed. His expression beca more serious. "Also, before you leave, I would like you to see the psychiatrist later today." He handed the clipboard detailing her treatnt to the nurse who was standing quietly nearby.
"See you later, Karn," Wilder said, offering a brief nod before walking briskly out of their sight.
The nurse moved closer to the bed, filling in a few final details on the paper before discreetly following the doctor out, leaving Karn and Juniper alone.
Karn walked closer to the bed after pulling the curtains around the bed while Juniper’s intense gaze focussed on him.
"Did you save ?" she whispered. "And did you... did you tell Nick that I got admitted to the hospital?"
Karn pulled a visitor’s chair closer to the bed and settled into it, his posture conveying a deep exhaustion. His eyes held hers steadily as he delivered the news. "Prince Dominick is no longer associated with you. And, Juniper, you are not his mate."
Juniper’s breath hitched. Her eyes, already red-rimd, began to glisten with fresh, hot tears. "Did he say that?" she managed.
Karn gave a curt nod. "Yes." He leaned forward slightly. "You better not pull a stunt like this again. It’s going to be nothing but a headache. I cannot keep bringing you to the hospital every single ti you decide to act out like this." He carefully omitted the fact that his spy had brought her to the hospital.
Juniper turned her face away, her chin trembling with resentnt. "Then you should have just let be there," she muttered into the pillow. "It’s better to die than to live like this."
Karn’s control snapped. "Is that the reason you were cutting your wrist, but failed?" he questioned in a low voice. "If you want to die that badly, Juniper, don’t waste ti with shallow cuts. Use silver, straight into your heart. Death will greet you much more easily."
Juniper’s hands clenched into tight fists at her sides, her knuckles turning white. ’I wish I could do this. But soon, I may succeed in it. I have no one left. My brothers tried to pin bla on while Nick no longer wants ,’ she thought.
~~~~~
"Look at all these roses, Noah," Alie murmured softly, holding the small pup securely cradled in her arms. The morning air in the garden was always refreshing, and having Noah with her made the routine walk infinitely more exciting and joyful.
"Alie, you’re walking alone. Where is your attendant?"
Raidan’s voice reached her from behind, causing her to turn instantly, a slight flush rising to her cheeks.
"Good morning, Father," Alie greeted him with a polite dip of her head. "I didn’t find a need to bring Ashna with this morning. I only stepped out briefly."
Raidan smiled, his gaze imdiately drawn to Noah, who jostled eagerly in Alie’s embrace, his tail a rapid blur of excitent at the sight of the King. "Is my little prince happy to see his grandfather?" He extended his hands, palms open in invitation, and Alie carefully transferred the warm pup into his arms.
Raidan brought the pup close, nuzzling his nose gently against Noah’s tiny one, and placed a soft kiss on the pup’s forehead. Noah giggled delightedly in response, showing his sweet smile, radiating pure contentnt.
"Noah is truly lucky to have such a caring grandfather, Your Majesty," Alie said, her voice filled with genuine warmth as she watched the touching interaction.
Raidan smiled gently, the expression softening the powerful lines of his face. "Well, I believe I’m the lucky one, to have such a smart, kind, and diplomatic daughter-in-law. Gabriel and Mabel’s relationship has stabilized completely, and it’s all thanks to your intervention. Gabriel finally has a true family of his own. You’ve brought an imasurable amount of joy and harmony to this household."
"Thank you, Father," Alie replied, her heart genuinely ward by his sincerity. "For such encouraging and warm words. It truly makes feel blessed."
As she spoke, Noah, nestled comfortably against the King’s chest, suddenly reached up. His tiny fingers grabbed playfully at Raidan’s neatly trimd grey beard. Raidan laughed, and gently held the pup’s minute hand in his own.
"Not there, boy," he chuckled softly. He looked down at the infant. "Shall we go and visit the Royal Council today?"
In that mont, as Noah focused on the King’s face, his eyes sparkled with a strange, deep, luminous blue, a color that seed to catch the morning light and held the Alpha King completely captivated for a silent mont.
"His eyes are rare," Raidan murmured, almost a whisper, raising his gaze to Alie.
"Yes, Father," Alie agreed, her own expression turning slightly more guarded as she carefully took Noah back into her arms.
The pup imdiately strained forward, stretching out his tiny arms to try and grasp the ornate brooch pin fastened to the lapel of the Alpha King’s overcoat, but Alie’s hand quickly covered his arm, gently pulling him even closer and securing him against her chest.
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