Dominick stepped out of the bathroom, steam still clinging to his skin and his hair damp from the hot water. He was in the middle of drying off when a servant entered, bowing low as he approached.

"What's this?" Dominick asked, pausing mid-motion as his eyes landed on the bouquet the servant held.

"A delivery for you, Your Highness," the servant replied.

Dominick took the flowers and dismissed him with a brief nod. Once alone, he set the bouquet on the nightstand and plucked the small card tucked between the petals. His thumb traced the writing, and he read the message.

{I hope you don't stay upset with me.}

A smile tugged at his lips. He inhaled the scent of the lilies before putting them carefully into a vase near the bedside table.

"I'm not upset with her; she completely misunderstood," he murmured to the empty room.

He hadn't meant to ghost her; the urgent work with Casaio had consumed him from the moment they finished their light lunch until deep into the night. By the time he'd finally eaten dinner, he was drained, and went to bed.

He quickly swapped into an off-white shirt, deep navy trousers and the matching blazer, styling his hair and spritzing cologne before pulling on matching navy shoes.

Not wasting another second, Dominick teleported first to a florist, then to Jeniva's house.

As he stepped closer, he saw her finishing up, tossing a bag into one of the bins. She turned, about to head inside, when she caught sight of him standing there.

"Nick!" she called out, surprise coloring her voice. She ran to him, wanting to hug him but stopped seeing him dressed in a proper attire.

"Why are you stopping?" Dominick asked.

"Your clothes will get dirty. I haven't even washed up yet," Jeniva replied, trying to maintain some distance. "And did you get the flowers? I was so sorry for—"

The words caught in her throat as he suddenly closed the gap, pulling her into a warm hug. The soft brush of his cheek against hers sent an immediate shiver down her spine. And those pheromones, they made her feel light-headed in that moment.

"Nick," she whispered.

"My clothes will be fine," he murmured against her skin. "And I wasn't upset with you. I was simply pulled into urgent work the moment we finished lunch."

They pulled away slowly, just enough for him to produce the small bouquet.

"For you. Blue thistles and white roses," he said.

"Thank you," she smiled, her eyes softening. She gently took them from his hand. "Come on, let's go inside."

Once they were in the house, she carefully placed the flowers in a vase on the dining table near the kitchen. "Have you had breakfast?" she asked.

"No. I came straight to you," he replied.

"Then let's have breakfast together. I just need to shower quickly," she said, gesturing toward the bathroom.

"Of course," Dominick agreed, watching as she grabbed a change of clothes and disappeared into the washroom.

When Jeniva emerged from the washroom, an inviting aroma wafted through the air, drawing her straight into the kitchen. Dominick was already there, his navy blazer discarded on a chair while he stood at the counter, sleeves rolled up, carefully slicing spring onions to garnish two perfectly cooked omelets.

"Dominick, why did you prepare this? I would have handled breakfast," Jeniva exclaimed, caught between surprise and genuine appreciation as she hurried to his side.

"I started learning to cook because I felt guilty letting you do all the work every time I come here," Dominick stated, finishing the final flourish on the plates. He turned to her with a warm look. "Come, sit."

He gestured toward the dining table, and Jeniva paused, taking in the scene. "You've plated this like we're in a five-star restaurant," she remarked.

"The palace chef taught me a thing or two," Dominick replied with a modest smile, pulling out her chair for her after setting the plates down.

Jeniva settled on the chair and saw him hurrying toward the counter.

Jeniva settled into her chair, watching as he hurried back to the counter.

"I made fresh orange juice, too," he said, placing the chilled glasses on the table. "I saw the fruit in the refrigerator and thought it would be a nice touch."

They began their meal in comfortable silence.

"It's the weekend," Jeniva said, bringing the last tiny piece of her omelette to her mouth. "I was actually planning to come to the palace to see you."

Dominick chuckled, a warm, resonant sound. "Ah, I ruined the surprise. But we can head over together later. I want to introduce you to my parents."

"Your parents?" Jeniva's fork stilled, her stomach tightening. The prospect of facing the Alpha King and the Luna Queen still terrified her. What if they disapproved of her?

Dominick seemed to sense the sudden shift in her mood instantly.

"You look troubled," he observed, his gaze softening.

"I'm just nervous about meeting them," Jeniva admitted, fidgeting with her napkin. "I saw them at your sister's wedding, of course, but I didn't actually speak to them. So, yes, I'm a little on edge."

Dominick reached across the table, covering her hand with his. "My father is very laid-back; you'll find him quite cheerful. And my mother? She might look stoic, but she has the warmest heart I know." He offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "But if it's too much, we can always go another day."

Jeniva took a steadying breath, meeting his gaze with renewed resolve. "No. I'll go today. I'm ready to meet them with you."

She looked at the used dishes, gesturing that she would handle the cleanup. Before she could gather the plates, Dominick gently stopped her.

"Why don't you go get ready and leave this to me?" he suggested.

"How could I let you wash them? You already cooked for us," Jeniva protested, shaking her head.

Dominick just smiled, his expression unwavering. "I want to learn how to do these things, Jeniva. I mean it. So, go to your room and dress up nicely."