Rejected and Pregnant Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince novel Chapter 639

Chapter 639: My own life began to fracture

"Sir, I have reviewed the CCTV footage. The man who entered the elevator was simply there to deliver a bouquet," the security manager informed Sage. Katelyn and Flora listened, the tension finally leaving their shoulders.

"Oh. Then there is nothing to worry about," Sage stated, offering a reassuring glance to Katelyn.

"Still, ensure that no one unauthorized wanders the floors after hours," Katelyn added, her protective instincts lingering.

"I will keep that in mind, Madam," the manager replied with a respectful nod.

"Come, Flora," Katelyn suggested, turning back to her with a smile. "It’s late. Let us drop you home."

"I wouldn’t want to trouble you," Flora refused gently. "I actually booked a cab a few minutes ago. It should be here any moment."

"Alright. Take care," Katelyn said, giving a final wave before walking away with Sage toward the parking lot.

Flora lingered for a moment, a small frown creasing her brow. Even with the security manager’s explanation, she couldn’t quite shake the cold prickle of unease that had settled in her chest. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she stepped out and waited at the main gate. When her cab pulled up, she climbed into the backseat.

Midway through the ride, her phone vibrated in her palm. Zayne’s name flashed across the screen. She answered immediately, pressing the device to her ear.

"I am sorry, Flora. I was caught in a long conversation with one of the elders," Zayne’s voice came through, sounding tired as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why did you call? Is everything okay?"

"Ah, it’s nothing," Flora answered, keeping her tone light despite the lingering phantom of the man in the elevator. "I just finished up at the office and thought I’d check in with you."

"Oh. You did well," Zayne replied. "I have been missing you," he added.

Flora smiled. Her fingers fiddled with the keychain hanging from the corner of her shoulder bag.

"I will call you once I reach home. Bye," Flora said.

"I’ll wait," Zander said and hung up.

The smile from her lips vanished, and she looked out of the window, feeling restless again.

~~~~~

Jeniva stirred the pan, the spatula moving in rhythmic circles as she muttered under her breath. "I have caught the scents of Alphas before, but I have never felt their pheromones this intensely. What is happening to me around Prince Dominick?"

"What are you cooking?" Dominick asked, his voice echoing as he strolled into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, looking weary. "It’s getting late, and I’m famished."

"It isn’t ready just yet, Your Highness," Jeniva replied, glancing over her shoulder with a small, apologetic smile. "Why don’t you find something to occupy yourself for a little while longer?"

"Shall I help?" Dominick asked, rolling up his sleeves.

He sautéed them till they turned golden brown. Finally, he added the small, hand-cut pieces of meat and sizzled them with the red wine.

"Well, everyone in the office was discussing it. I couldn’t exactly turn my ears off," Jeniva murmured, her eyes following the steam rising from her pots. "I have ears to listen, after all, and the palace walls are thin when it comes to secrets."

"Pass me the salt," Dominick commanded, his focus narrowed on the searing meat. "And the black pepper."

She moved quickly, placing the grinders within his reach. As she did, she couldn’t help but notice the quiet strength in his hands, the way the veins in his forearms flexed as he worked. Satisfied that her own task was done, she switched off the flame under the broth, the liquid having finally reached the boil she was looking for.

Dominick stared into the skillet for a long moment. "I never imagined my marriage would actually break up," he said. "I had my entire future mapped out with June," Dominick confessed. "I wanted a life with her— kids, a family of my own. I failed to give her the wedding she dreamed of, and I couldn’t become the husband or mate she truly needed."

He shook the skillet before turning off the flame. "I couldn’t bring myself to be selfish; I couldn’t fight my own brother apart for my own happiness. But as the days passed, I realized I didn’t actually know her at all. The bond we thought we were building was draped in lies. I didn’t want to understand her pain, or maybe I could have, if she hadn’t worked so hard to hide it from me."

Jeniva’s fingers curled instinctively at her sides as she listened. She realized then that because he was a prince, he was expected to be an unshakeable pillar, forced to bury his emotions under layers of royal protocol, and he had done so with perfection.

"Both June and I failed each other," Dominick continued, his gaze fixed on the steam rising from the pan. "I wish we hadn’t come to this point, but in hindsight, it was bound to happen. I am nothing like my brothers."

He let out a dry, hollow laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. "You know, I used to laugh at Gabriel. I mocked him for being so cold and distant before he found his mate. I truly believed he didn’t know how to love. But when my own life began to fracture, I realized I was the one who couldn’t keep my world from falling apart. Now, I just hate the very idea of having a mate. The bond is supposed to be a blessing, but for me, it’s just a reminder of everything I couldn’t hold onto."

Sighing, he took out the ceramic plates. "Let’s just eat before the food gets cold."