Juniper fixed her coily hair out of her face, as she did she caught sight of her left hand.

Pausing for a moment, she looked at the healed skin. It was pink against her pale palm, the movement of her fingers was still a bit of a struggle and probably would be for a long time. Some textured skin remained from the burns.

The gold/champagne colored dress clung to her frame. A cowl neck accentuating her tits as her curvy figure was hugged tight in the shimmery fabric.

Raphael exited the bathroom besides her, beelining for her. A champagne, silk button up was tucked into his black dress pants. She practically purred at the sight.

"You ready for this shit show?" she asked in her sultry voice that had his knees weakening no matter what she was saying. His large hands cupped her ass immediately.

They were getting ready for her fathers wedding, the event weighing over them during the business that consumed them lately.

They were spending more time than Raphael would like to admit with the Bordoa's. The couple spending time on the island and vice versa on the main land. Saint Island officially becoming a known ally to The Legion and having a place on the council.

Shadow demons and berserkers were both introduced and put on the board. Juniper vehemently denying any offers to be at the table with the big dogs. She was content in her own position besides Raphael.

He of course had no choice, picking Phoenix to serve as his council partner. Juniper watched him begin to take the work more seriously, making plans for the future. It made her excited, but at the same time she missed her constantly busy mate. As he grew busier with the Legion, she took over some of the more casual duties of the island.

But again, Raphael couldn't give her his undivided attention all of the time and that was just not her cup of tea.

But now they had a week off to themselves, unfortunately they were starting it with a bang going to her dads wedding with the she beast. And she beasts daughter of course.

"Either way we'll be good yeah?" he eyed her lips while speaking lowly.

Juniper leaned up in her heels, kissing his jaw.

"God, you're so pretty ya know that?" he admired her. Her plump lips pursed, fully expecting a kiss. Who was Raphael to deny her?

Swiping his tongue over her glossed pout, he groaned as he tasted her and their mouths melded together.

"I think this is going to go bad," she grunted while fisting his shirt.

Raphael pulled away, "Why're ya being negative gorgeous? It's a wedding, nobody will cause a scene."

Her eyes narrowed as he doubted her predictions.

"And what do you know about it? I'm sorry were you the one living with them for years?" Her dark brow lifted as her face remained unmoved.

Sighing, he rolled his eyes a little. "Yeah alright. My deepest apologies, baby. How stupid of me."

Her lips quirked a bit in amusement, eyeing him through her lashes. "Good boy," she cooed mockingly as his face went pink at the praise. His eyes were wide while she gripped his hand with both of her own, leading him downstairs to where a portal was about to open for them.

"If you think it's going to go so terribly why'd you get a wedding gift?"

Juniper held the colorful bag in her free hand, "If I showed up empty handed Dana would throw a fit and we'd have more problems to begin with."

"You don't think when they open the bag and see a list of divorce lawyers in the card they won't start problems?"

Juniper's lips pursed, side eyeing her mate.

Raphael raised his hands up, dropping the topic.

"Melody will be there," Juniper groaned quietly while thinking about her step sister.

Threading his fingers into her hair at the base of her neck, he grumbled quietly to reassure her he was listening.

"Well we aren't going to the ceremony. Just the reception, beautiful. In and out."

She sighed heavily, her shoulders sagging for a minute as he could feel a wave of sadness hit her.

"I wish your parents were still around," she admitted quietly. "Selfishly so I would have a dad... a-a mom again. And for you... and our little demon later down the road."

Raphael's face fell as well, running his hand over her back. "I know, I wish the same."

"I know you do, I don't know why I brought it up. I'm sorry," she grasped his hand to kiss his palm apologetically.

"Never apologize for that," he bent to kiss her rounded jaw. "Want you to tell me things like this."

Juniper gave him a sad smile while pushing on her toes to kiss his soft lips gently.

"Sooner we go, sooner we leave."

"Let me say bye to Bear."

Juniper allowed Raphael to guide her to the portal opened by their home. The car running besides them.

Opening the door for her, he helped her into the car as he turned to the witch who opened the portal for them.

"Two hours max. No more, possibly less. Keep you're phone on you," he demanded in an intimidating tone to the skinny woman.

She nodded obediently before bowing her head, turning off and leaving to her station.

Raphael closed the door, grumbling quietly as he prepared himself as he drove through the portal to the hotel it seemed they rented out.

"Your fathers a Berserker?" he rasped to his mate. She nodded once.

"And his wife an elf?"

"Mhm."

"Odd pair," he commented. "Elves don't usually date outside of their species."

"Cause they have a stick up their asses half the time."

Raphael nodded in agreement, "Not this time apparently."

"The sticks so far up there with her that it's pokin' out her damn mouth."

A low laugh rasped from the demon king. A smirk stretching his face, "Have I told you I love your humor?"

"No but feel free to," she smiled while leaning closer over the console.

"Gods, I love your humor," he leaned over to kiss her hard as he parked the car.

Inhaling deeply, he felt her kiss him again. "I'm not nervous," Juniper swallowed hard as if trying to lie to herself.

"Never that," he rose a brow a tad as there was a lick of sarcasm to his words.

Juniper ignored it however, pushing her door open and looking expectantly at her mate who followed quickly after.

Stepping through the door, Juniper was hit with many familiar faces of her family and Dana's. Her arm looped into her mates quickly. Eyes were drawn to them quickly and their semi-late entrance.

Raphael watched Juniper's face fall, emotions wiped from her and going back to the same stoic expression from when he first met her. Squeezing her hand gently, they felt the entire mood of the party shift.

Juniper's gray eyes met her father's dark brown ones. "Juni," he called while his brows were slightly furrowed. Elijah examined the man attached to her.

A small smile pulled at her mouth, "Hi dad," they all walked closer to the dark skinned berserker.

She leaned up, discreetly whispering to her mate. "Are we telling him about being mates?" They probably should've covered that in the car.

Raphael, in a matter of seconds, weighed their options. It's obvious he was a berserker, the king no less, their being together was obvious as well. But the issue was her father knew Juniper was part berserker obviously and could carry his kin. Them being mates also heavily implies them having children in the future. If Raphael is introduced as a boyfriend that wouldn't be the case.

But after hiding it for so long, Raphael couldn't give a damn. Elijah had kept Juniper's secret this long, if there were negative consequences Raphael would just kill them all.

Almost as soon as she asked, he nodded down at his mate.

A small smile was his reward just as she hugged her father, Juniper rest her face on his broad chest. Inhaling her father's familiar scent, she couldn't help but burrow deeper into his dress shirt. His arms wrapped around her tightly, resting his face in her hair and sighing quietly.

"I've missed you, little one," his voice rumbled against her head.

Squeezing her eyes tight, emotions she didn't welcome brimming up, Juniper nodded. "Missed you too."

Raphael watched the sight, a wave of sadness hitting his chest. He knew how badly Juniper wished things were different.

Swallowing hard, she pulled away. Her father reluctant to let her go, watched her reach back blindly to the male she'd brought in. Elijah examined the two, how his daughter melted into this behemoth of a man's side. Elijah was a large man, soaring over six feet as many berserkers do yet even Elijah found his stature intimidating.

"This... this is Raphael. My mate," Elijah's face fell in shock. Not only at the markings on both of their necks but the fact that now he finally could place this man's face. The king- the man running Saint Island and renewing his reputation amongst the current population nowadays.

"Mate...?" he choked out the word. As if getting slammed with a memory, inhaled deeply at the fact that his daughter was a hybrid mated to another berserker. His ochre pigment paled, realizing all at once what this could mean for the future.

"It's nice to meet you," Raphael nodded at the man. Yet his hands did not leave Juniper's hips that were placed in front of him comfortingly.

A woman with light brown skin and exotic features came over to the trio, everyone having their fill while staring. Her white gown fell to the floor as her makeup was done precisely.

"Dana. You look nice," Juniper hummed as the elf forced herself into the conversation.

Dana looked at Raphael with wide eyes, her thoughts obvious on her face. Why was he with Juniper?

Elijah was too busy being stunned to notice the women discreetly sneering at one another.

"And... who is this? A friend?" Dana looked upon the two judgementally.

Raphael scoffed quietly, rolling his neck in annoyance as his grip flexed on Juniper's hips. It felt as if this woman was disregarding his claim on Juniper and vice versa.

Juniper raised a brow, tapping the bite mark on her skin as well as Raphael Saint branded inside it.

Dana's mouth fell open, slowly piecing together who had just stepped into their reception.

"Oh!... I had no idea. It's been so long since we've seen you," Dana tried to change her tone to cheery while stepping closer to the couple.

"Yeah didn't you turn her away last time she tried to visit," Raphael commented blandly. Juniper had been busy eyeing her father who stared back at her. His eyes pleaded for her to speak to him.

Dana's face flushed a bit, "I didn't realize you spoke so candidly about our family business, Juniper." Her jaw clenched while taking a sip of her champagne.

"Raphael is my family."

"Juniper," Elijah cut in. "Can we talk for a moment?" He reached for her while nodding to a quieter corner.

As soon as he did so, the familiar figure of her step-sister came over. "Daddy!" she called in her nasally tone. Juniper visibly cringed, annoyance clear on her face. Melody clung to Elijah's side, he sighed loudly while looking down at her.

"Juniper..." Melody's tone went down significantly. Looking down her nose at her, her dark eyes lit up in interest once again at Raphael who stared down at Juniper's profile.

"And you brought a date... yay. A handsome one too, wonder what he's doing with a demon like you."

Raphael's jaw crooked, fingers twitching. Juniper only hummed, lids lowering to look blankly at Melody, "I see you haven't changed. Sill insecure and needy I see, good to know some things stay the same."

Melody's mouth fell open but only huffed. Turning back to Elijah she pouted, "You see I told you she's always mean. Can you help me with some of the seating... please?"

"I really need to speak with-"

"Please? For your favorite?" her tone was sickly sweet.

Elijah's shoulders fell, and with an apologetic glance over to his daughter, he left with her. Dana followed after them with a parting smirk.

The mates stood in silence for a moment, Juniper felt Raphael practically shaking in anger behind her.

"I'm not sure how much of this I can stand without hurting someone, Juniper," he snarled lowly in her ear.

Juniper watched her father tend to Melody, lost in thought before she felt Raphael hold her tighter. "Let's get something to eat. We're only staying until the end of the hour." Juniper's voice was soft and distant, reaching and setting the gift on the table for them all.

After eating mediocre food, the lights were dim and people were dancing to the music.

Juniper was finally smiling a bit as they swayed to the slower song, Raphael held her tight against his chest. Kissing over her shoulder and neck softly, in his other hand he held her hand while leading their moves.

"I don't think I want to tell him about the baby... whenever he comes. And considering we haven't taken the birth control potion in the last week when we were supposed to I'd say we should think about these things." Juniper mumbled against his shoulder.

Raphael knew she was referencing telling her father about their son. "I don't want him to be disappointed when his grandfather doesn't put him first," her hand wrapped around his shoulder and clutched his shirt.

Hearing how upset she was becoming, Raphael pulled away. Resting his forehead against her own, nudging her nose with his own. "We're plenty enough for him anyway..." he kissed her cheek slowly over to her mouth. "And I think he needs us to get on with the process of making him, huh baby?"

That brought a small chuckle out of Juniper as he kissed her reassuringly. Pulling black, he nodded over to the exit. "I texted the witch before we started dancing. Ready to ditch this wonderful celebration of love?"

"I think that wonderful idea from your beautiful brain deserves head. Let's go."

A wolfish grin spread across his face, he led her over to the small bag she'd brought, both attempting to sneak out and deal with the consequences later on.

"Juniper!" a squeaky voice forced most to look right as they were approaching the exit. A damn spotlight might as well have been put on them.

"Damn."

"Shit."

Elijah came over quickly for only the second time since they arrived, Dana and Melody not far behind.

"You're leaving?" he asked with a furrowed brow. Dana continued with a pout, "Without even saying bye?"

"We didn't even get to talk," Elijah loosened his collar nervously.

"I tried to talk to you, dad. I told you we couldn't stay long, we're leaving."

"Juniper please- just- let's just talk before you leave," he tried to grab her arm albiet gently. Juniper moved away with a sharp look, Raphael tucking her under his arm with a glare.

"You only ever try when it's too late," Juniper whispered weaker than she would like to admit.

"Juni I-"

"No, I can't anymore dad. We have to go, have fun with the rest of the reception..." Juniper pushed her hair out of her face while still trying to leave. She had no energy, no fight when it came to her father.

"You're so ungrateful, Juniper! Your dad was nice enough to invite you even if I always tell him you're a waste of breath-"

Her fight was not depleted when it came to Dana. No ma'am.

Pushing Raphael's arm off her, Juniper swung. Her fist connected with the elfs nose, blood spurting onto her white wedding dress. Hissing, Juniper shook out her fist.

Dana screamed and held her face, crouching as Melody cried and tried to help her mom.

"Years of your bullshit, holy fuck that felt good." Raphael's mouth fell open before rubbing a hand over his jaw to hide a smirk.

Elijah was stuck on what to do, between his wife and his daughter like he always has been.

"You never put me first!" Juniper seethed while pointing up at her dad. "I'm done dad... I can't do this anymore. You're not worth my time."

Juniper turned on her heel, grabbing her mates hand and pulling him out. Raphael grinned slyly, throwing up the finger behind him while slamming the door shut behind them.

~~

how do we feel about the little time jump? this chapter was always planned but I'm not sure if I'm happy with juniper's confrontation but taking from my own daddy issues it feels valid to not being able to fully confront

I wrote this all day idk why it took me so long but it is still Friday so we are back on track!!