Denzel opened the door and welcod Karn inside with a firm embrace, patting his back in congratulations. "I'm genuinely happy for you, Karn. Your marriage announcent was quite the surprise."
"Thank you," Karn replied with a smile.
"Co, have a seat," Denzel said. Karn walked into the living room and settled onto the couch. He had barely leaned back when his posture shifted; his senses sharpened as he picked up the distinct aura of an Alpha. specifically a female, within the house.
A mont later, the door to the guest room opened. Juniper stepped out, having just finished a long, hot shower. Her expression was relaxed until she spotted the visitor, causing her to stop dead in her tracks.
"June?" Karn exclaid, rising halfway from the sofa.
Juniper offered a stiff nod of acknowledgent, and Karn returned it with a look of confusion.
Denzel walked over to Juniper, closing the distance between them. He placed a steadying hand on her back, making his stance clear. "Karn, you know Juniper, of course. But you don't know her as my girlfriend."
Juniper's eyes widened. She had not expected him to be so forward about their status, especially in front of an acquaintance.
Karn looked back and forth between them, his eyes darting as he tried to process the information. "Are you two together? Since when?"
"Since yesterday," Denzel replied, his tone level. He glanced at Juniper, his expression calm. "Karn is getting married. He stopped by to deliver the formal invitation."
Juniper offered a polite smile, finding her composure despite the awkwardness of the mont. "Congratulations, Karn. That is wonderful news."
"Ah... thank you," Karn replied. He sat back, his gaze darting between the two of them. "You two have managed to give a surprise bigger than my own."
He set the paper bag down on the coffee table and retrieved the thick cardstock invitation. Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he produced a pen. He laid the card flat on the table, opened it, and carefully wrote 'Juniper' in the space next to Denzel's na.
Denzel walked toward him, his hand firm in Juniper's as he led her closer to the table. "What are you doing?" he asked, looking down at the card.
Karn finished the last letter and capped the pen. He looked up at them with a wry grin. "Updating the invitation. If you two are a couple, you are attending as a couple. I am writing your girlfriend's na on the card."
Karn then forwarded the card to them and Denzel took it, offering a sincere nod of thanks. "Congratulations again, Karn." He glanced at the card, scanning the elegant text until his eyes landed on the wedding date.
Karn then reached for a small, decorative bag nearby and handed it to Juniper. "These are the traditional sweets," he explained. "I expect to see both of you there. Your attendance is not optional."
Juniper accepted the bag, feeling the weight of the gesture. "Thank you, Karn. We wouldn't miss it," she said, offering him a warm smile.
"Have a seat. I'll brew so coffee for you or perhaps you would want a cold drink since it was hot outside," Denzel opined.
"Nothing. I'm in a bit of hurry, so I have to leave," Karn asserted. "Once I'll be free, I'll ask you to et at Gabriel's place."
"Alright. By the way, did you propose her for the marriage? I an... I thought Aisha would take more ti," Denzel stated, clearly curious.
"It's the opposite. Aisha proposed to marry her. I still feel it was a dream, but it wasn't," Karn pronounced, smiling. "Anyways, I must take my leave. There's so much to prepare in such a short ti."
"Do tell if you need help," Denzel offered.
"Sure." Karn gave him and Juniper a nod before turning to leave.
~~~~~
Dominick and Jeniva sat across from each other in his private chambers, positioned on opposite sides of a small coffee table.
Jeniva took a mont to observe her surroundings, noting that the room's design blended modern utility with contemporary aesthetics.
"You have a significant amount of space here," Jeniva remarked, gesturing toward the expansive layout. "I imagine my ho must feel quite cramped to you by comparison."
Dominick shook his head, offering a slight, reassuring smile. "That is not the case. In my experience, smaller spaces have their own advantages. A smaller ho ans less physical distance between rooms, which often facilitates less emotional distance between the people living inside."
"That is a fair point," Jeniva murmured. She shifted in her seat, her mind drifting back to her earlier conversation with the Alpha King.
She decided to address the specific detail that had been occupying her thoughts since they parted ways. "
Your father ntioned earlier that Princess Alie was an Oga, but later manifested as an Alpha. I have never heard of such a transition. How is that possible?"
She looked at Dominick, waiting for him to clarify the situation.
"She was always an Alpha," Dominick explained. "Due to a curse, her true nature was concealed, causing her to present as an Oga."
"A curse?" Jeniva repeated, her interest sharpening.
"It originated in a past life. Gabriel and Alie endured significant hardship before finding each other again in this one. It is a complex history," Dominick said.
"That sounds remarkable, though certainly tragic," Jeniva noted.
"It is," Dominick agreed. "But what prompted you to ask? What specific conversation did you have with my father?"
"I told him I was concerned about being the only Oga in a family composed entirely of Alphas," Jeniva admitted. "I questioned my own capabilities and the limitations my presence might impose on you."
Dominick leaned forward with a warmth in his eyes. "My attraction to you stems precisely from what you have achieved despite being an Oga. Your status, whether Oga, Beta, or Alpha, is irrelevant to . Please, do not harbor such insecurities."
"I won't. Dominick, thank you for making a part of all of this. I truly an it," Jeniva said with a bright smile.
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