Jeniva disappeared into the kitchen to bring so refreshnts for Dominick. He, on the other hand, gripped the phone tightly as he lowered his voice to a low hiss.
"Denzel, I have nothing to do with her anymore," Dominick snapped, his eyes darting toward the kitchen to ensure Jeniva was out of earshot.
"But this is happening because of you," Denzel didn’t hesitate to speak bluntly. "You need to see this for yourself, Your Highness. This isn’t a matter that can be overlooked simply because you signed a divorce decree. Her safety is at stake."
Dominick’s jaw tightened, a surge of agitation boiling in his chest. "You are Gabriel’s Gamma, Denzel, and that is the only reason I am forgiving your insolence this ti," he spat. "If this is Juniper’s latest sche to lure back into her orbit, tell her I see right through her tactics. I am not a fool. Do not let yourself fall for her lies either."
Before Denzel could offer a rebuttal, Dominick terminated the call.
When Jeniva walked back in, balancing a small plate of snacks, she paused. The relaxed man she had left a mont ago was gone, replaced by a Prince whose expression was as sowhat disturbed.
"Is everything alright?" she asked softly, setting the plate down.
"Yeah," Dominick lied. "Just a minor matter at the Palace. It’s nothing for you to worry about."
"You should hurry back to the palace then," Jeniva said, her voice laced with a touch of concern. She gestured to the small plate she had just set down.
"I wasn’t sure what you usually prefer, so I brought these, freshly baked cupcakes and cookies. I spent the early morning on them."
Dominick reached out and picked up a single cupcake. He took a slow bite as he savored the flavor. Jeniva watched him, her hands clasping nervously in front of her.
’Does he actually like it?’ she wondered, her heart sinking slightly at his silence. ’He hasn’t said a word. Maybe he’s only eating it to be polite, to keep from hurting my feelings.’
The silence stretched a second too long for her comfort.
"If it’s not to your liking, you really don’t need to force yourself to finish it," Jeniva affird, her tone a mix of pride and vulnerability.
Dominick paused, the half-eaten cupcake still in his hand. He looked from the cupcake to her anxious face.
"It’s excellent, Jeniva," he said, his voice dropping to a genuine, softer note. "I was simply surprised. It’s been a long ti since I’ve tasted anything that didn’t feel like it ca from a professional kitchen. This... it tastes like ho."
He finished the rest of the cupcake and reached for a cookie, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Don’t ever assu I do things out of re politeness. If I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t have reached for a second one."
Jeniva smiled, feeling happy that he liked them.
~~~~
When Dominick returned to the palace, a servant approached him imdiately and inford him that the Queen had summoned him.
His hands paused mid-motion as he was putting on his leather jacket. Without wasting ti, he adjusted it properly and turned toward his mother’s chamber.
Inside, Mabel was seated at her desk, going through a detailed list of gifts prepared for the guests.
"Good afternoon, Mom," Dominick said as he entered, lowering his head slightly in greeting. "I was told you wanted to see imdiately."
"Yes," Mabel replied, setting the list aside. "Take a seat."
She gestured toward the chair across from her.
Dominick sat down, his posture straight, his hands coming together on his lap.
"There’s a matter that has co to my attention," Mabel began. "And you are involved in it, Nick."
Dominick looked at her, confusion evident on his face.
"Pardon ," he said, "but what could I have possibly done?"
Mabel’s expression remained serious.
"Juniper was attacked at her workplace," she said. "The situation she’s facing right now is not just personal, it’s affecting her professional life as well."
Dominick’s brows furrowed.
Mabel continued, "Details about your relationship and divorce have been leaked. The way people are talking about it is creating hostility around her."
Her tone carried disappointnt.
"I did not raise you to handle matters this way. You were supposed to end things quietly, with dignity, letting others believe it was mutual and respectful. But that didn’t happen."
Dominick’s expression hardened slightly.
"Did Denzel contact you?" he asked, his voice edged with irritation.
"No," Mabel replied. "He contacted Lester. He said the second Alpha Prince is refusing to listen."
Dominick’s jaw tightened. "I don’t understand why he’s involving himself in this," he said. "I have nothing to do with Juniper anymore."
He leaned back slightly, his frustration showing.
"And why would soone attack her because of the divorce? I didn’t spread any rumors about her." He looked at his mother firmly.
"At the very least, I know this much that she was once my mate. I wouldn’t do sothing like that."
Mabel held his gaze for a long mont before speaking again. "Go to San Ravendale and check on Juniper."
Dominick’s expression tightened imdiately.
"Mom, forgive , but I can’t do that," he replied, trying to keep his voice controlled. "I have nothing to do with her anymore."
He shook his head slightly, frustration evident now. "If I’m seen with her, won’t that create more speculation? People will only talk more."
His tone hardened. "And I still don’t understand how I’m being blad for any of this."
There was nothing more he wanted to say.
He stood up, gave a brief bow out of respect, and left the room without waiting for a response.
As he walked down the corridor toward his chamber, his mind was still unsettled. The frustration hadn’t left him.
Turning a corner, he almost ran into Gabriel, who seed to be returning from outside.
"Gabriel," Dominick said imdiately, not giving him a mont to speak, "your gamma has the audacity to bla for what’s happening with Juniper."
Gabriel frowned, caught off guard. "What?" he asked, his brows lifting in confusion.
"Don’t act like you don’t know," Dominick said, his tone still edged with irritation.
Gabriel exhaled lightly, trying to calm the situation. "Will you relax for a second?" he said. "I genuinely have no idea what you’re talking about, Nick."
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