novelraw Chapter 829 829: Chosen as his best man
Chapter 829 829: Chosen as his best man
Jeniva had stayed the night at the palace after accepting the Luna Queen's invitation to remain for dinner.
By dawn, the palace was already bustling with activity. Corridors were alive with the sound of hurried footsteps as servants moved between tasks: polishing floors, attending to laundry, and preparing the morning tea and breakfast service.
Curious about the layout of the upper levels, Jeniva walked through a quiet hallway, only to round a corner and find herself face-to-face with the Alpha King.
He had just returned from his morning walk in the gardens. Flustered, she immediately stepped aside and offered a low, humble bow.
"Your Majesty," she whispered, her hands clasped respectfully at her waist.
"Good morning, Jeniva," Raidan replied with a faint smile. He tilted his head slightly, signaling for his valet and the accompanying servants to continue on without him, leaving them alone. "You may raise your head."
Jeniva straightened, keeping her gaze lowered before looking up to meet his eyes. "I didn't realize the Alpha King used this route."
"I use all the routes in the palace," Raidan stated calmly. "Shall we walk together until we reach my chambers?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," Jeniva replied. She immediately fell into step, staying a respectful pace behind him.
"Dominick seems quite serious about you," Raidan noted, his eyes fixed ahead. "He has even spoken to me about the mate bond between you two."
Jeniva felt her stomach tighten, wondering what he was truly driving at.
"I have noticed your hesitation, Jeniva," Raidan continued, his voice neutral. "Is it life here in the palace that will trouble you, or is it something else?"
She swallowed hard, realizing how observant he had been. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to appear reluctant. It isn't the life here at the palace."
"Then what is it?" Raidan asked, softening his tone as he glanced back at her. "Dominick admires you, and he is working hard to heal from his past. I am not blind to his faults, however. Please, speak to me as a father would. Tell me what is on your mind without fear."
"Everyone in this family is an Alpha," Jeniva admitted, keeping her eyes fixed on the path ahead. "I'm the only one whose traits place me at the bottom of the hierarchy. Prince Dominick respects me, I don't doubt that, but I worry about the future. I don't want him to face any criticism or setbacks because of my standing. I'm a sentinel spy, and I'm torn; I question whether that role remains suitable for me, yet I'm not ready to walk away from it."
Raidan listened intently before offering a small, reassuring smile. "The Queen and I moved past concerns about werewolf hierarchy long before your time. It began when Gabriel introduced Amelie as his mate. There was doubt, naturally, but it turned out her wolf was every bit as much an Alpha as the rest of us."
Jeniva was shocked learning that. Dominick never told her about it. But then, she never asked anything about anyone in his family.
"As for your work, Dominick has no desire for you to sacrifice your ambitions. However, once you marry into this family, continuing as a spy will be impossible, your face is already too well-known. Do you truly want to remain a spy your entire life?"
Jeniva knitted her brows, considering the weight of his question.
"Honestly, no, Your Majesty. I never intended to be a spy forever. I wanted to be a sentinel officer, the kind who could directly help people," Jeniva replied. She offered a small, wistful chuckle. "I never even told my family I'd been selected for the spy unit." Her expression softened at the memory, a reminder that her father was no longer around to see what she had become.
"Then, shall I speak to the head of the sentinels to have you reassigned from the spy unit?" Raidan asked. "Understand, this is not a favor. I am simply acting on what I believe you want, especially considering you have a younger sister to protect."
Jeniva paused, contemplating for a moment. "Your Majesty, I am truly grateful for your concern, but I don't want to be perceived as someone who relies on royal influence to manage her career. I would prefer to speak to my commander first. If he agrees to the reassignment, then I won't need to trouble you with it."
Raidan watched her for a moment, respecting her stance. "And if he refuses?"
"Then I will reassess," she replied.
"Very well," Raidan affirmed. "But if he doesn't, do not hesitate to call upon me, or Dominick. I have no intention of pressuring you into anything. Simply make the choice that feels right for you. But definitely don't make any sacrifice for your career."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This conversation has given me a lot of clarity. I can see why everyone speaks so highly of your character," Jeniva said with a smile.
Raidan returned the smile. He reached out and patted her head with fatherly affection. "If you join this family, it will be a point of pride for us. You are an omega who became a sentinel officer through nothing but your own hard work. The royal family will remember that for a long time."
He gestured toward the door of his private chamber. "Thank you for the company this morning, Jeniva."
Jeniva dipped into a respectful bow and watched as he walked into his chamber.
~~~~~
Juniper had drifted into a deep sleep in Denzel's arms, her breathing slow and steady. When she finally stirred and opened her eyes, the space beside her was empty.
"Oh my god, it's already past ten," she exclaimed, sitting up abruptly. She had slept for over three hours. Rushing out of the room, she found Denzel in the hallway, wrapping up a conversation with a maid regarding the cleaning.
She waited until the maid left before approaching him. "Denzel, why didn't you wake me up?" she asked, hurrying down the stairs.
He didn't answer immediately, instead holding out a shopping bag. "I got you some clothes. You were so deeply asleep, I didn't have the heart to wake you."
"Thank you," Juniper said, taking the bag. She peeked inside, her eyes widening slightly when she spotted a lingerie set nestled beneath the outer garments. She caught his gaze for a fleeting second, feeling flustered, before quickly turning and heading toward the guest room.
Once she was out of sight, Denzel pulled his phone from his pocket. He frowned when he saw who was calling.
"Good morning, Karmen."
"Morning. Where are you?" Karmen asked.
"At home," Denzel replied, his tone shifting instantly. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is fine. But you changed your home and didn't even inform me," Karmen stated.
"It must have slipped my mind. Don't tell me you were standing at my old apartment," Denzel replied, wincing slightly.
"Yes, I was. I wanted to formally invite you to my wedding, but it seems I'll need your new address first. I'm coming over," Karmen asserted.
"Congrats, Karmen! You're finally tying the knot," Denzel said, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Sure, I'll send you the location right now."
"That would be great," Karmen replied, and the call was hung up.
Denzel lowered his phone, a lingering smile on his lips. He wasted no time sending the location to Karmen, then settled into the cushions of his couch to kill a few minutes.
Curious, he tapped into the group chat where most of the wolves who worked for Gabriel were active. The screen was scrolling rapidly with messages of disbelief and shock.
Everyone was reeling from the sudden announcement, the man who was notorious for being a recluse, who hadn't been spotted with a woman in years, was suddenly off the market.
"They have no idea how much Karmen yearned for this moment," Denzel mumbled to himself, shaking his head.
"I wonder what Prince Gabriel must be feeling," he murmured.
~~~~
Gabriel held the beautiful invitation card, scanning the text for the nth time. Beside him, Noah reached up with both hands, trying to snatch the card from his grip.
"No. Don't tear it, little one," Gabriel said, moving the card out of reach.
Noah frowned, his brow furrowing in frustration. He dropped to his hands and knees, pivoting away from Gabriel to crawl across the room. Amelie picked him up, setting him on her lap.
"How long do you intend to examine that?" she asked.
"Karmen is getting married in three weeks," Gabriel replied, not looking up. "I still find it hard to believe. It is the best decision of his life. I've been chosen as his best man, and I've decided Noah will be the ring bearer. He can crawl to the altar easily enough. He is fast, aren't you, boy?"
"Ya! Papa!" Noah squealed, clapping his hands together.
Amelie watched them, shaking her head. She was pleased to see Gabriel in such high spirits. His genuine enthusiasm for the upcoming wedding brought a sense of lightness to the room.