Raphael's eyes snapped open from sleep when he heard something in the house.

His thoughts immediately cut to his mate staying in the room besides him, he sat up quickly and darted to check on her.

When he saw no one in the large bed, his loud steps shook the house down the stairs.

He turned into the kitchen and Juniper's head popped up from the fridge wide eyed.

Bear laid at her feet.

Raphael released a breath, "What the hell are you doing up?" He rubbed his brow, he was completely foreign to be sharing a home with someone.

"Shadow demons are naturally nocturnal," Juniper rolled her eyes as if it was obvious.

He frowned at her and she frowned back.

"I got used to sleeping at night at a young age but while I was traveling it was safer to sleep during the day," she grabbed a yogurt.

Raphael nodded while watching her sit on one of the stools at the counter. Because the house was built for him, even her height of around 5'7 wasn't tall enough so sit on it without hopping.

"Did I wake you up?" Juniper asked while licking her spoon.

Raphael shrugged and walked to lean on the opposite end of the counter, looking over her.

The two sat in silence for a few moments, "Do you not like me being here?"

He was a little caught off guard by the question, but he supposes standing and watching her eat in the middle of the night sent mixed signals.

"I don't mind it."

She hummed while looking at him in the dimly lit kitchen.

"I don't want to get in the way while I'm here. Just keep me in the loop on what you need me to do," Juniper ran her finger over the counter. "I have to figure out my next move."

Raphael frowned in thought but slowly nodded.

"Alright."

Juniper glanced up at him once before standing to clean up her mess. "I'm going to bed now, sorry for waking you up."

Raphael shook his head, waving it off while resting his elbows against the counter. He ran his hands over his eyes as he heard her walk up to his bedroom.

~

The next week Juniper didn't see Raphael.

At all. She saw him in passing the first few days but he was dismissive, practically running out the nearest exit after day three.

The last time they had an actual conversation he said he wanted her to stay hidden as much as possible. So they could use her 'death' to their advantage. Juniper agreed, unaware it would be the last fucking time he'd actually acknowledge her.

She wasn't sure what she expected after the conversation about their mateship but it certainly wasn't no contact for seven days.

She was currently cleaning the kitchen, she scoffed to herself. As if she was his bitch.

The thought made her threw her towel down, "What the hell am I doing?" She grumbled quietly.

He was letting her stay here, but she didn't exactly ask to be stuck in the house. While he roamed around as he pleased.

She knew she shouldn't go out in public so
others wouldn't be able to confirm whether she was alive or dead but at the moment she was going stir crazy.

It's been days since she's even seen Raphael and while he didn't owe her his time, he did owe her updates on the situation.

Juniper was scowling as usual as she held her phone between her ear and shoulder while struggling to get her shorts over her ass.

"Hey?" Seraphina answered.

"I'm coming over for a little bit," Juniper informed her as she grabbed her sunglasses.

"Oh! Okay did Saint say that was-"

"Raphael says a lot of things."

"Okay... I'm just gardening so maybe you can help if you want," Juniper could hear Seraphina's smile even over the phone. The nymph loved her garden.

Juniper however tried to hold back her frown... she was not an outside person.

"Okay," she sighed. It was hard to say no to Seraphina.

They both said quick goodbyes as Juniper looked at the multiple sets of keys Raphael had.

Squinting in thought she grabbed the least expensive set she could see out of the array, walking into the large garage.

Clicking to unlock whatever car she's chosen at random, she saw it was a blacked out jeep. She opened the passenger side for Bear and watched him leap up. Giving him a quick kiss to his head, she slid into her own side.

With a pleased look, Juniper wasted no time peeling out of the property.

Letting herself into Seraphina's large apartment, she walked through the back to see the black haired nymph in full gardening gear.

Overalls and all.

Seraphina adjusted her sun hat and smiled up at the less than excited Juniper. The shadow demon was dressed in all black, denim jeans that were just below the swell of her ass and a thin tank top. Her eyes were shielded by circular black sunglasses.

Bear didn't dare step out into the harsh sun, lying underneath the awning.

"You blend right in," Seraphina joked while resting her gloved hands on her hips. She wore a bright yellow shirt under her overalls and a pink sunhat.

Juniper grumbled, walking right to the shed to grab the gardening gear Seraphina bought just for her.

Wedging the stupid black sunhat on her head, she tugged on matching gloves as well as rubber boots that went to her knees.

"You look so cute. My goth little gardener," Seraphina pinched her taller friends cheek. Juniper spluttered and smacked the hand away, rubbing at the dirt now on her cheek.

"You're annoying," Juniper huffed while crouching the cover the daisies in the proper amount of dirt.

Seraphina only hummed happily, "Phoenix is taking me out tonight for ice cream. Isn't that cute?"

Juniper nodded while ripping up weeds.

"I'm hoping the time alone with Saint did you guys some good?" Seraphina asked eagerly, eyes wide with hope for her best friend.

Except when she glanced over her shoulder to see Juniper pause, biting the inside of her cheek instead of answering she knew the hope was for naught.

Turning towards Juniper, she worked on the same area of weeds for a moment.

Behind her sunglasses, Juniper's eyes were a little sad. But she blinked it away quickly.

"He's been busy I guess," Juniper muttered to answer her question.

"How busy?"

Juniper shrugged, "Haven't seen him since the night you all left."

Seraphina's jaw fell open, "Holy shit. That's ridiculous, Juni. Did-Did you even talk about being mates and going forward?"

"Yup."

"And what did he say?"

"That he didn't want to reject me. He didn't ever say he actually wanted to be with me though," Juniper reached behind her for a small shovel.

"Well he sure isn't acting like it! I mean, what happens when you grow bored? Does he realize that you're like- perfect? Who wouldn't want to spend time with you," Seraphina scoffed with a scowl.

Juniper felt her heart tug, her eyes welling with tears as she looked at her friend in surprise.

"You really think that?" she asked quietly.

Seraphina was so wrapped up in her anger with the head berserker that she didn't notice the unfamiliar crack of emotions Juniper was having.

"Of course I think that, who else have I had to protect me since I was 15 years old? No one has done that for me like you, you're strong and even though you don't try to be you're funny- you're one of the funniest people I know. You're fucking beautiful too! It's a wonder Raphael hasn't bent you over-" Seraphina slapped a hand over her mouth at her words.

Her brown cheeks were hot at the thought of the large, scary man bending her friend over.

Juniper suddenly laughed out loud, Seraphina was caught off guard. Juniper probably hasn't laughed like this since they were teens.

She held her stomach as she tried to stifle her chuckles, "I didn't know you were so invested in me and Saints nonexistent sex life."

Juniper still held a small smile as she continued to work as if her friends head wasn't about to explode in embarrassment.

"Speaking of sex lives- how's your and Phoenix's?"

Seraphina might as well stop breathing.

She covered her mouth sheepishly before uncovering it quickly, "Literally out of this world good." Her words were rushed and dripping with embarrassment.

"Yeah?" Juniper smirked with a quirked brow.

"He's so..." Seraphina groaned a little as she thought about her boyfriend. "So hot. And he thinks I'm so hot! And he's gentle but then he's not and I love it."

Juniper was eating up the details being spilled, seeing as the last time she had sex was over a year ago.

"You're hot as fuck, it's only right he acts like that," the shadow demon nodded firmly.

Seraphina threw her butterfly locs over her shoulder with a cheesy smile, giggling quietly.

"He should be here soon actually," Seraphina squinted as she glanced up at the sky.

Juniper hummed in acknowledgment, she stood up to get some water.

"I'll leave whenever he shows up," Juniper offered as Seraphina insisted it wasn't necessary.

"It's best to get back before dark anyway, so I don't have to run into Raphael."

Seraphina pursed her lips but nodded, that still left her an hour or two with her best friend.

~

what do we think so far :))

when i first publish books i like to put a good chunk out first i do have many other chapters pre written so don't worry we will be on a good schedule :))

next chapters comes out tomorrow to begin our schedule of friday updates!! bc i love to spoil u guys sm ;))