Junior's POV
Max: Dad, are you sure?
He asked, looking at me as if I had just said something stupid.
Junior: Of course, my son.
Ariana: Dad, isn't uncle a bit too old to get that kind of gift?
Said my little princess.
Junior: No, a man is never too old to get a car.
Jayden: Seriously, uncle?
Said my little gothic nephew, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Junior: And why wouldn't I be serious?
Jayden: A man doesn't need to be a certain age to get a car. But the type of car matters.
Junior: There's no such thing as a "type of car."
Jayden: So maybe you'd like your father to give you a car suited for your age?
Did I forget to mention that he's always as straightforward as an adult?
Garth and Asher burst out laughing.
Junior: Don't make fun of me.
Garth: Only you could think like that, my little cousin.
Junior: Stop calling me little.
Asher: But you are.
He said jokingly.
Madnah: Dad, stop teasing Uncle Jiji.
Lena: You too, Dad.
I mock them in my heart.
Jayden: My goddess, am I the only one here being serious?
He sighed, then the door suddenly flew open.
Iris: Big brother!!
She said, jumping into my arms.
Junior: Iris?
I said, surprised.
Iris: Who else would call you big brother?
She said, sounding annoyed.
Jayden: Aunt Raven exists, you know.
Iris: Blah blah blah, nobody asked you, JD.
Jayden: Stop calling me that, I hate that nickname.
Iris: JD.
She repeated, mocking him.
Junior: Where are the others?
Iris: On the sea.
Junior: Don't tell me you teleported again.
Iris: Of course I did, I wanted to see you all before tonight.
Garth: Oh, that's cute.
Iris: And I want to change this horrible dress Mom picked out.
Asher: You don't want to wear what your mother chose?
Iris: No, she has terrible taste. Only Sister Raven tolerates her awful fashion sense.
She rolled her eyes while we laughed.
Junior: Iris, don't talk about your mother like that.
Iris: But she's boring.
{Arès: She's right.}
Junior: Shut up, Arès.
{Arès: What!?}
Junior: Listen, Iris, even if she's boring, she's still your mother.
Iris: Then why don't you call her Mom? We're brother and sister.
Junior: Iris, my mom and Lis's mom is someone else. But your mom, Raven's and Alvin's mom, is the same person. You're still my brothers and sisters.
Iris: Okay, I get it.
Ariana: Iris, do you want me to show you my dolls?
Iris: Let's go.
Madnah & Lena: Us too!
They ran off.
Junior: Be careful, girls, you'll fall.
Jayden: Ah, kids.
He sighed.
Max: You're a kid yourself, idiot.
Jayden: At least I'm not as stupid as you.
He exclaimed, walking away.
Max: Yeah, look who's talking!
Said my son as he followed him.
Garth: Kids are complicated.
Asher: Way too complicated.
Junior: If your wives heard you say that, they'd kill you.
We laughed.
Garth: Come on, let's get to work or someone else will kill us.
We separated and went our own ways. I went downstairs.
Athènia: Yes, like that (…) put those flowers higher.
I chuckled and she looked at me, so I pretended to sulk.
Junior: You love our little brother more than me.
Athènia: And why would you say that?
Junior: You didn't throw such a ceremony for my coronation.
I said, pouting, while she burst out laughing.
Athènia: Idiot, we all knew that coronation wouldn't happen, and Jinking made quite a nice decoration instead.
She said jokingly.
Junior: Haha, very funny. What should I do to help?
Athènia: Let me see… MJ, Lonia, and Harley are in charge of the banquet. Garth is handling the drinks. Asher is in charge of the outside decorations. So your task is to make sure the guards are in place to prevent any unexpected events.
Junior: Yes, Supreme.
I started heading for the door. I had to check that the guards—ordinary supernaturals—were at their assigned posts. You're probably wondering why there are simple supernaturals in a hybrid kingdom. They were Im's former subordinates, and as punishment for their abuse of hybrids, they now protect our borders. They cannot disobey, just as they were once loyal to Im. Now Athènia is the Supreme, and her orders are absolute. It was still a good way to punish them and make them learn from their mistakes. They've adapted to this life and are now loyal to Athènia.
Asven approached me.
Asven: Good morning, Alpha Junior.
Junior: Good morning, Asven.
Asven: You're here to check on the warriors?
Junior: Yes. Are they in position? Did you give them the instructions?
Asven: Yes, Alpha, I gave them the instructions.
Junior: Let's check anyway. Otherwise, the Supreme might skin us alive if something goes wrong.
Asven: Of course, Alpha.
We began the inspection. The guards saluted us as soon as they saw us. After hours, we finished making sure everything was in order.
Junior: Good, everything's fine. Asven, go get ready.
Asven: But Alpha, I'm supposed to stay back and keep watch.
Junior: You're the second commander of the military forces, Asven. Rafael is handling all that. And this is an order from the Supreme.
Asven: Okay, Alpha.
He bowed before heading to his house.
I went to the Dracos Manor, already filled with quite a crowd. I tried to slip in discreetly, but my sister noticed me.
{Arès: Did you really expect her not to notice?}
Junior: Shut up, Arès.
Athènia: Junior, you're still in that outfit.
She called me by name, which meant she was stressed.
Junior: I just finished the security check, Supreme.
Athènia: Go get ready, the guests are arriving and soon almost everyone will be here.
I saw her running out of breath.
Junior: Lis, calm down. Stress won't make the anxiety disappear.
Athènia: I'll try… but go get ready.
Junior: Yes, Supreme.
I hurried upstairs before she could get angry and destroy everything—better to avoid that. I rushed into my room to get ready quickly before all the guests arrived.