Chapter 622
Gabriel was in the depths of a heavy, dreamless sleep when he felt a soft pressure against his cheek. The sensation of tiny, wandering hands and the melodic babbling were sounds he knew by heart, even in his half-conscious state.
“Noah, let me sleep. I am tired, boy,” Gabriel groaned into his pillow. He turned his head away, shifting onto his stomach to bury his face further into the mattress, hoping for just ten more minutes of peace.
“Da p>
Noah wasn’t having it. The toddler chirped with pure, morning energy, determined to get his father’s attention. Seeing that poking wasn’t working, his tiny fingers tangled into Gabriel’s hair and gave a sharp, surprisingly strong tug.
“Ahhh!” Gabriel yelped, the sudden sting jolting him awake.
Noah’s response was a peal of delighted laughter. Gabriel sat up, rubbing the back of his head with a wince as he looked down at the little culprit.
“Did you enjoy seeing me hurt, Noah?” Gabriel asked with a sleepy expression.
Sensing he might be in trouble, or perhaps just starting a game, Noah quickly got on his knees, preparing to crawl toward the edge of the bed in a frantic escape. But Gabriel was faster. He reached out and scooped the boy up, trapping him in his large hands.
“Daddy is wide awake now. Answer him,” Gabriel said, a tired smile finally breaking through as he lifted Noah high into the air, making the boy squeal with joy.
“Gabriel, good morning. You’re awake!” Amelie said as she walked into the room. Seeing him already playing with Noah brought an immediate, warm smile to her face.
“Noah pulled my hair,” Gabriel complained playfully, lifting the squealing toddler into the air once more.
“What?” Amelie laughed, quickly setting the baby bottles into the wide drawer space before hurrying over to the bed.
Noah was a bundle of pure joy, his small legs kicking as he laughed. Amelie reached out and caught him mid-air as Gabriel lowered him, pulling the boy into her arms.
“Why did you pull your father’s hair, hm?” Amelie asked, bopping her nose against Noah’s. “Was he being a sleepyhead p>
Noah just babbled happily, reaching for her face, completely unbothered by the interrogation. Gabriel stretched out his limbs as the soreness from the previous day still lingering, but the sight of them together made the fatigue easier to bear.
“He’s is our little troublemaker,” Gabriel joked, though his eyes were soft. “I think he’s officially ready for breakfast. He has too much energy for this early in the morning p>
“Say sorry to your Daddy. I left you behind to watch him, not to disturb his sleep,” Amelie said, looking Noah in the eye. Though the toddler didn’t fully grasp the vocabulary, he sensed the shift in her tone and knew he was being scolded.
“Don’t scold him. He’s just a baby,” Gabriel interjected, reaching out to dismiss the matter.
“But if we don’t guide him now, he’ll grow up thinking this is normal behavior,” Amelie emphasized, her expression firm but loving. She turned her attention back to the boy. “Baby, say sorry to your Daddy. Say it. S-O-R-R-Y p>
She articulated each letter loudly and clearly, leaning in close so Noah could watch the movement of her lips.
Meanwhile, Gabriel leaned forward, his playful annoyance forgotten. He watched with bated breath, more interested in whether Noah was finally ready to find his voice than in the apology itself.
“Sowi!” Noah chirped suddenly.
Gabriel’s eyes widened in shock, a look of pure pride washing over his face. “Did you hear that? He actually said it p>
“Yeah,” Amelie said, her smile widening as she watched the breakthrough.
Noah, sensing the shift in the room and seeing his parents’ radiant faces, realized he had done something right. He bounced slightly in Amelie’s arms and repeated it with even more confidence, “Sowi, Da p>
“Apology accepted, boy!” Gabriel declared, his heart swelling with pride. He reached out and pulled Noah back into his own arms, tucking the toddler against his chest and laughing along with him. His fatigue was completely gone, replaced by the joy of hearing his son’s voice.
Amelie’s heart fluttered seeing both of them happy. She quickly looked for her phone and clicked their pictures to keep them as memories.
Jeniva stepped out of her room, pulling her arms tight against her chest as a sudden chill seeped through her clothes. The air in Gridlock was far colder than the climate of the capital. Shivering, she ducked back inside to grab a thick wool cardigan, wrapping herself in its warmth before venturing out again.
When she reached the main hall of the mansion, the quiet murmur of voices drew her attention. Dominick and Evan were already there, seated comfortably and sipping from steaming mugs of coffee as they shared a low-toned conversation.
Hoping to remain unnoticed, Jeniva attempted to slip toward the kitchen, but Evan’s sharp eyes caught the movement.
“Good morning, Jeniva! Where are you heading? Come and enjoy the warm coffee with us!” Evan called out.
Dominick tilted his head slightly at the sound of her name, his gaze flickering toward her for a brief second before he returned his focus to the coffee in his cup.
Jeniva took a few steps closer but shook her head, clutching the edges of her cardigan. “I’ll be taking a warm glass of water,” she replied.
“Sure. We have to head out later this afternoon, so make sure you dress warmly,” Evan pointed out, gesturing toward the frosted windows. “It snowed again last night p>
“Hmm,” Jeniva murmured in acknowledgment. She didn’t linger, turning quickly toward the kitchen to escape the suffocating weight of Dominick’s silence.
Evan watched her retreat until she was out of earshot, then he turned his attention back to his companion. He didn’t miss the subtle tightening of Dominick’s jaw.
“It seems the Alpha Prince is still upset with Jeniva,” Evan remarked, breaking the quiet with a dry tone. “But I have to say, the reason seems a bit lame to me p>
Dominick finally looked up, and chuckled. “She brothers me. And I don’t find it lame.” He finished the last sip of the coffee as he again focused on the scent that Jeniva was emanating.