Upon returning ho, Alie found that Noah was already settled with Zilia and Casaio.
"Gabriel, I’ll go bring Noah back. You can rest until then," she said, squeezing his shoulder before walking out of the bedroom. Gabriel exhaled, sinking into the recliner and closing his eyes for a mont of quiet.
A few seconds later, a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Your Highness, your Beta is here," Ashna inford him from the doorway.
Gabriel frowned. He hadn’t summoned Karn at this hour, and a visit this late usually signaled a shift in plans or a sudden developnt. He stood up and stepped out into the hallway to et him.
"Is everything okay?" Gabriel asked, his voice regaining its authoritative edge.
"Yes," Karn replied, offering a respectful bow.
"Then why have you co?" Gabriel mused, lowering himself to the couch.
"I wanted to talk about Denzel," Karn said, taking a seat across from him.
"I am not forgiving him," Gabriel replied imdiately. He touched his lip, recalling the sting of the punch he’d taken from Dominick, a wound that had healed physically but left an irritation behind. "I took a hit for his interference."
"Denzel didn’t want to disturb you," Karn explained, leaning forward. "He felt that if he spoke directly to Prince Dominick, the matter could be resolved without involving you. He was trying to be efficient, Gabriel. Forgive him this once. It’s not as if he makes a habit of such mistakes."
Gabriel’s expression remained stony. "Denzel acted on a whim, and it could have backfired disastrously. If it weren’t for , Dominick could have had him beheaded on the spot for that kind of insubordination."
Karn fell quiet, realizing that it was impossible to change Gabriel’s decision.
"How are you and Aisha getting along?" Gabriel asked, the tension in his shoulders finally vanishing. A smirk played across his lips. "Louis ntioned he spotted the two of you having quite the ti on a boat date."
"What? Where on earth did he see us?" Karn chuckled, shaking his head. "And what is he even doing here? I thought you sent him to the Western lands weeks ago."
"He was here for Kate’s wedding," Gabriel explained, leaning back. "He wasn’t spying on you, Karn. He just happened to see you as he was traveling back from that route."
"Hmm. Well, Aisha and I are doing far better than either of us expected," Karn admitted, a genuine, soft smile reaching his eyes. "Honestly, I never thought love could be this beautiful. It changes the way you see everything."
Gabriel’s smile widened. "Love makes you feel special every day."
As he spoke, his mind drifted back to the beach, the way Alie danced for him, her laughter ringing out. She had looked so radiant, so in love with him.
"Why are you smiling so deeply?" Karn asked, gazing at him with a confused, slightly teasing expression.
Gabriel shook his head, the warmth of the mory. "Just thinking about the dance I was treated to earlier."
"A dance?" Karn arched his eyebrows, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Papa!"
The small, bright chirp cut through the teasing. Noah ca toddling into the chamber, his small legs swinging as fast as they could manage, with Alie holding him firmly.
Gabriel stood up imdiately, his entire deanor shifting from pack leader to father in a heartbeat. He crossed the room in two long strides and scooped Noah up into his arms.
"Did you miss your papa, boy?" Gabriel asked, his voice dropping into that warm tone he reserved only for his son.
Noah began to babble excitedly in his own private language, waving his small hands as if trying to recount his entire afternoon with Zilia and Casaio.
Gabriel didn’t miss a beat, showering the toddler’s face with a barrage of kisses, which sent Noah into a fit of high-pitched giggles.
Alie watched them, pulling Noah’s soft sweater down.
Karn stood up, clearing his throat with a respectful nod. "It seems my cue to leave has arrived. I’ll let you three have your evening. We have a long flight tomorrow."
"Get so rest, Karn," Gabriel said, not looking away from his son as Noah grabbed playfully at his nose. "We leave at dawn."
Karn offered a final, respectful bow and disappeared into the hallway, leaving the small family to their own quiet.
Gabriel walked back into the chamber with Alie, Noah still chirping happily in his arms.
As Gabriel lowered the boy onto the center of the large mattress, Noah imdiately scrambled onto all fours.
He crawled across the blankets until he spotted his favorite toy car. He sat back, his small fingers expertly spinning the wheels against the fabric, completely absorbed in the simple motion.
Alie let out a weary but content sigh, slipping off her small white coat and draping it over the back of a nearby chair. She reached up, gathering her loose hair and tying it back into a practical knot, the stray golden strands catching the soft glow of the bedside lamps.
"Alie, that dance you did there... do it one more ti," Gabriel urged, his voice dropping into a low, persuasive hum.
"Huh?" She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head at his sudden request. "Right now? In the middle of the bedroom?"
Despite her playful protest, she reached for her phone on the nightstand and swiped through her playlist until the familiar beat of the beach music filled the quiet chamber.
Noah’s head snapped up instantly, his tiny fingers pausing on the wheels of his toy car. He tilted his head, his wide eyes shining with pure delight as he recognized the lody.
A toothy grin spread across his face, and he began to bounce on the mattress in ti with the music, cheering for his mother in high-pitched babbles.
Gabriel sat back on the edge of the bed, his arms crossed over his chest, feeling completely enchanted by the scene.
Suddenly, Alie scooped Noah up into her arms. The boy let out a squeal of surprise that quickly turned into a giggle as she began to sway. Gabriel didn’t want to miss a second of it; he pulled out his own phone to capture the two most important people in his life.
"Look at your papa, Noah. Let’s show him an even better step," Alie whispered against the toddler’s ear. She held him securely against her chest, her movents light and graceful as she twirled on her feet, her skirts fluttering around her ankles.
Noah waved his arms wildly, his laughter echoing against the high palace ceilings, while Gabriel watched them affectionately, his heart feeling fuller than it had in years.
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