Chapter 668
Amelie, Gabriel and Noah went into the balcony of their chamber, witnessing the first snowfall. Noah, who was resting comfortably in Gabriel’s arms started jumping and wriggling his legs seeing the gentle snow flakes coming from the sky to the earth.
Gabriel adjusted his hold, chuckling as Noah’s wriggling legs practically kicked against his chest.
“Aaa! Aa!” Noah chirped, his voice echoing off the balcony.
He lunged forward, his chubby fingers splaying open to snatch the snowflakes, only to find his palms empty. His frustration lasted only a second, however, as Amelie stepped closer. She caught a large, crystalline flake on the very tip of her finger and held it out for him to inspect.
“Look, Noah. Doesn’t it look beautiful?” Amelie whispered, her eyes glowing with maternal warmth.
Noah stared at the intricate shape for a heartbeat before it melted into a tiny, clear droplet of water. His face scrunched in wonder, and then his tiny hand reached out to tug urgently at the collar of Gabriel’s shirt, pulling his father toward the very edge of the balustrade.
“Ma… Maa p>
The broken, sweet sound of his voice made both parents freeze.
Gabriel’s heart fluttered as he stepped right up to the stone ledge, allowing the cold breeze to ruffle Noah’s some of soft hair, which were out of the cap.
Noah’s eyes sparkled with pure triumph as several flakes finally landed in his grasp. Before anyone could stop him, he brought his tiny, chilled fingers to his mouth, tasting the cold magic of the winter.
“What are you doing? Bad boy, that’s cold!” Amelie laughed, gently catching his hand to lead it away from his mouth.
Noah didn’t mind the scolding. He reached his other hand out to rest on Amelie’s shoulder, watching with intense focus as more white crystals settled on his palm.
“Dadda, ook!” Noah chirped, turning his head sharply to show Gabriel his prize. “Mama,” he added, more clearly this time, as he pressed his cold, damp hands against Amelie’s warm cheeks. The contrast made her gasp, which only prompted a bubbly, high-pitched giggle to escape his mouth. The biting air had turned his chubby cheeks a vibrant shade of beetroot red, making him look like a little winter sprite.
Gabriel pulled Amelie closer into a side hug, resting his chin atop her head as they looked out over the sprawling white gardens. “Doesn’t it drive you crazy how fast our lives changed, Amelie? Here we are, the three of us, watching our very first snowfall together p>
Amelie leaned into his strength, her arm circling his waist. “And it feels so warm like this, Gabriel. You, me, and Noah. It feels… Complete p>
She lifted her head, her eyes reflecting the silver light of the sky. Gabriel leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender, lingering kiss. Between them, Noah remained blissfully occupied, his tiny hands dancing through the air as he tried to catch every flake that drifted past their balcony.
Dominick stared at the ornate cardstock in his hands before shifting his sharp gaze to Evan. “Why was this sent to me? I have no interest in public spectacles p>
“Maybe they all simply want the prince’s presence tonight,” Evan replied smoothly. “The people of Gridlock are eager. They want you to inaugurate tonight’s Winter Moon Festival. It’s the cornerstone of their season p>
Dominick sighed, a sound of weary frustration, and tossed the invitation onto the coffee table.
“It’s not a bad thing, Dominick,” Evan advised, his tone shifting to one of a seasoned counselor rather than a beta. “The people want you to be a part of their culture. As the Alpha Prince, it’s vital that you are seen engaging with these traditions. It builds a bridge that steel and laws cannot p>
From the shadows of the hallway, Jeniva watched them. A small, secret smile played on her lips. She had spent her morning meeting with the city mayor, subtly pulling strings to ensure the nobles and the public would petition for the Prince’s attendance.
She had purposefully let Evan deliver the news; she knew Dominick’s temperament well enough to know that if the suggestion had come from her, he might have viewed it as an overstep and refused out of spite. This way, it appeared to be the collective voice of his future subjects, a request he could hardly ignore.
“Will the Alpha Prince go?” Jeniva asked softly, finally stepping into the light of the room and catching Dominick’s eye.
“Yes, I have to go. I can’t refuse everyone’s request,” Dominick said, his gaze lingering on Jeniva for a moment longer than necessary.
Evan flashed a quick, knowing smile at Jeniva, but his expression immediately flattened when Dominick turned back toward him.
“You should get ready then. Jeniva, you too,” Evan directed.
Jeniva offered a quick nod and hurried toward her room, her heart racing with the success of her plan. Dominick, meanwhile, retreated to his own room in the residence.
As he opened the heavy wardrobe, he began sifting through his options, looking for something that would ward off the biting chill of the Winter Moon Festival. As he pulled aside a row of shirts and jeans, his hand snagged on a soft, white woolen sweater.
He froze. It was the one Juniper had bought for him.
A flash of irritation and old pain crossed his face. He had made a point to discard everything that reminded him of her, yet this one item had somehow survived the purge, tucked away in the shadows of the cupboard. Without a second thought, he yanked it from the hanger and tossed it aside, reaching instead for a black woolen sweater. He pulled it out and slammed the wardrobe door shut.
Dominick checked his reflection one last time. The wine-colored long coat added a regal weight to his silhouette, the gold brooch catching the dim light of the room. With his scarf tucked securely and his black gloves pulled on, he looked every bit the Alpha Prince the people expected to see.
The clock struck five.
“Let’s have some fun in this festival,” he murmured to himself, his voice a low rumble in the quiet room. “Hopefully, my mind will come to rest seeing the vibrant energy of the festival p>