<h4>Chapter 712: Grandpa has fallen sick</h4>


    Dominick lowered the dossier onto the mahogany desk, his expression unreadable as Evan finished briefing him on the Alpha who had attempted to purchase Jeniva during her undercover sting.


    "Who provided this intel?" Dominick asked.


    "Jeniva secured the information herself," Evan replied, shifting his gaze toward her with a look of professional respect.


    "There is another spy operating within Gridlock," Jeniva stated, stepping forward. "I need to lure him into a trap if we’re going to dismantle the rest of thiswork. We have reason to believe the trafficking is still active. Since His Highness discovered the nature of this operation, I felt it was necessary to bring you into the fold."


    Dominick’s jaw tightened as he considered the variables. "It’s too dangerous for you to move alone. Evan will apany you as backup."


    "I don’t think that’s wise," Jeniva asserted, her voice cutting through the room. "Having Evan follow me will onlypromise my cover. I need to handle this on my own."


    "You cannot handle this alone. Last time, you were moments away from a disaster," Dominick asserted as the wolf in the back of his mind growled. The protective instinct was wing at his restraint, demanding he keep her within his sight. "If I hadn’t intervened, getting out of there safely would have been nearly impossible for you."


    "I have been part of countless operations, Your Highness," Jeniva countered despite the weight of his gaze. "The Prince and his associates were never supposed to be involved in the first ce. I am trained for this. Jumping into that pool wasn’t a mistake; it was a move to ensure my own survival." She was trying to give him a reason to step back, to see her as a warrior rather than someone to be shielded.


    "I will be apanying you on this mission," Dominick stated. "There will be no argument. I’ll settle the logistics with yourmanding officer myself. You both are dismissed."


    Evan nced at Jeniva, subtly gesturing for her to follow him out, but she remained rooted to the spot.


    Dominick’s brow furrowed. "Did you not hear me?"


    "I heard you perfectly," Jeniva stated. "However, Your Highness, your Alpha aura is far too potent. You would be recognized the moment you stepped into the room. You cannote." She knew his concern was genuine, but she couldn’t risk his life, or the mission, just to soothe his worry.


    "Prince Dominick can utilize a suppressant injection," Evan intervened, breaking the tension. "It will mask his pheromones and dampen his aura for several hours."


    "Exactly," Dominick said, his eyes locked onto Jeniva’s, challenging her to find another excuse. "Now, leave."


    Recognizing she had lost this round, Jeniva inclined her head in a stiff bow and walked out, Evan trailing silently behind her.


    Dominick dialed the number of themanding officer, issuing him instructions when he had sensed Jeniva’s presence nearby the door. Turning away from the window, he watched as Jeniva reached back and clicked the lock into ce.


    "Yes, get it done," Dominick said into the receiver before hanging up. He slid a hand into his trouser pocket, his gaze tracking her every move. "What is it now?"


    "You cannot apany me on this mission," Jeniva said in a soft voice filled with concern. "If something happens to you because of my work... I won’t be able to forgive myself. You are the Alpha Prince. Your life is worth more than a bust."


    In a blur of movement that made her breath hitch, Dominick was suddenly inches away from her. "And what guarantee do I have that you’ll walk out safely?" he challenged. "Being trained doesn’t make you invincible, Jeniva. I’ve already cleared it with yourmanding officer. It’s settled. Now, go to your room and rest for the remainder of the day."


    Jeniva kept her head bowed, her fists trembling at her sides. The frustration of being sidelined battled with the overwhelming realization that he was willing to risk his own safety.


    "What is it?" Dominick’s voice dropped to a low murmur as he leaned in.


    "Nothing," Jeniva managed to whisper. She tried to turn away, desperate to put some distance between them, but Dominick was faster. His fingers coiled around her wrist, drawing her back until she was nearly pressed against him.


    "I want to protect you," he breathed, his lips so close to her ear that she felt the heat of his words. "Want to go out for lunch? Just us."


    "No. Everyone is here," Jeniva murmured, her heart hammering against her ribs. She couldn’t risk being seen with the Prince like this.


    "I’ll teleport us," Dominick countered. Before she could voice a single protest, he teleported them.


    Jeniva gasped, looking around in disorientation. They were standing outside a secluded restaurant, tucked far away from the bustling heart of the city. Thendscape was breathtaking, where the only sight for miles was the dense, snow-covered forest stretching toward the horizon under a pale winter sky.


    "Where are we?" She asked in surprise.


    "It’s Silver-Pine Highs. I came here after my stay in Gridlock just to explore. It’s quite far from the city, so we are safe. The vige lies half a mile away from here," Dominick stated.


    Jeniva looked down at their joined hands, a smile softening her features. "Shall we run in our wolves’ form before sitting for lunch? This ce is secluded; no one will see us here, right?"


    Dominick looked out at the dense treeline. "The terrain is unfamiliar. I’ll ask the owner about the boundaries first," he said, stepping toward the rustic building.


    Before they could reach the door, a young girl’s voice rang out. "We are closed today, Mister!"


    They both turned to see a girl, barely ten or eleven years old, trudging through the snow with a heavy wicker basket hooked on her arm. She wore a thick wool coat.


    "I see. Is there any other dining ce nearby?" Dominick asked.


    "Yes. In the vige further down the trail, you can find many," she replied, gesturing vaguely toward a path ahead.


    "But why is it closed?" Jeniva inquired, her protective gaze taking in the girl’s tired eyes.


    "My grandpa has fallen sick, that’s why," the girl answered simply, her head bowing slightly as she began to walk past them toward the back of the property.


    Jeniva watched her for a moment, then leaned in toward Dominick. "We should help her," she whispered. "The vige is too far for her to manage everything alone if her grandfather is bedridden."