Mabel leaned back in her high-backed chair as she dismissed the servant who had just finished pouring the fresh rose tea. The floral steam curled between them, filling the chamber with a sense of calm.
"Your father told that you already found a second-chance mate," Mabel began, her voice laced with maternal curiosity. "Why haven’t you brought her here so far? She should have been introduced to the family by now."
"Everyone was busy with Kate’s wedding, so I truly didn’t have the ti for a formal introduction," Dominick replied as he reached for his teacup. He inhaled the delicate scent of the rose before taking a slow sip. "Also, Jeniva was a bit reluctant to co forward. She thought she might feel out of place in such a high-profile setting."
Mabel huffed softly, a sound that was both a dismissal of Jeniva’s worries and a silent critique of Dominick’s timing. "Nonsense. If she is your mate, the palace is her ho by right."
Mabel leaned forward, her expression softening as the habitual royal mask slipped just a fraction. She reached across the small table, her fingers brushing the edge of Dominick’s saucer in a rare gesture of silent comfort.
"I understand," Mabel said, her voice dropping to a gentle murmur. "It takes a strong man to admit his past arrogance, Dominick. Your first marriage was a whirlwind of expectations and... misunderstandings on both sides. If Jeniva is wary of the Alpha life, then your patience is the greatest gift you can give her."
Dominick nodded his head, sipping more tea.
"What am I seeing in this lovely morning?" Raidan’s voice echoed in the chamber. When he noticed that Dominick was going to leave his seat, he said, "Stay seated, boy."
Raidan sat down next to Mabel, who effortlessly poured a fresh cup for him, the steam rising between the royal couple.
"So, did you tell your mother about that girl?" Raidan asked, already lifting the teacup to his lips. He didn’t wait for an answer before turning his gaze to his wife.
"Dear, she’s a sentinel. An oga hardly becos a sentinel since the job demands such intense physical strength and resilience. But she truly impressed with the list of her successful missions."
"A sentinel? And you’ve already t her, Your Majesty?" Mabel inquired, her eyebrows arching in genuine surprise. The transition from a quiet, reluctant mate to a decorated warrior changed the dynamic entirely in her mind.
"Yes. I awarded her a dal of Honor for her exceptional work in the field," Raidan stated, lowering the cup onto the saucer with a firm click.
He gazed at Dominick with a glimr of fatherly pride, and perhaps a bit of challenge was visible in his eyes. "She has the discipline of a soldier and the heart of a protector. She isn’t just ’so girl,’ Mabel. She’s a formidable asset to the country."
Dominick remained silent, though a shadow of a smile touched his face at his father’s praise of Jeniva. He knew how hard she had worked to defy the stereotypes of her rank, proving that an Oga’s strength wasn’t always asured in muscle, but in the precision of her spirit.
"She has made feel at peace at tis when I—I felt I didn’t deserve a mate," Dominick admitted. "I didn’t grow feelings for her instantly. Even now, we are still confirming and seeing where we both will head. But Jeniva did make realize that my arrogance ruined things for . And I need to be soft when it cos to love."
Mabel and Raidan exchanged a long, knowing look, their smiles reflecting a shared relief. It was the most growth they had seen from their son after his divorce.
"Take your ti with her. You need not rush anything," Mabel advised.
"Yes, Mom," Dominick replied. He finished the last sip of his tea before standing up and taking his leave, bowing slightly to his parents.
As he walked through the long, sun-drenched corridor of the mansion.
He wondered if Evan had finished handling the task he assigned him. Since Juniper had asked to withdraw the case, his Beta should have returned by now.
As he turned the corner to enter his elder brother’s office, the air shifted. He sensed his Beta’s presence before he even saw him. Evan was back.
"Your Highness!" Evan greeted him with a humble bow as Dominick turned toward him in the quiet corridor. "It seems the Prince was waiting for my return."
"I wanted to confirm if it’s fully closed," Dominick asked, his voice low but tinged with a tension he couldn’t quite hide.
"Yes. Juniper seems to have changed," Evan explained, straightening his posture. "She didn’t want those people to be punished or to have them hate her more. It was a side of her I didn’t see in the past. She chose rcy over retribution."
Dominick knitted his brows together. In the past, the Juniper he knew had been fragile and easily crushed by the weight of others’ cruelty.
Hearing that she was had the empathy, he felt quite happy.
"She has changed for good," Dominick murmured, almost to himself.
"She did," Evan agreed, his expression unreadable. "She has a ssage for you as well."
"What is it?" Dominick asked, his curiosity piqued.
"She asked to tell you not to hurt your mate this ti. And she hopes you learn from what you did to her," Evan pronounced, his brow furrowing slightly. "I’ll admit, Your Highness, I couldn’t quite grasp the full aning behind her words."
"You don’t have to," Dominick stated. "Those are the limitations of my failed marriage. I didn’t respect her interests. I chose to do only what I felt was right for us, and in front of others... I didn’t value my mate."
Juniper’s ssage wasn’t an attack on him; it was a mirror for Dominick. She was handing him the map to a better future with Jeniva, one built on the respect she never received.
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