"I never did that. I think Prince Gabriel has some misunderstanding," Alex denied firmly, not showing the fear. He stole a glance at Amelie, confusion swirling in his mind as he struggled to understand how she had ended up meeting Gabriel.
Gabriel leaned back on the couch. "It seems you don't understand what happens when someone lies to me," he said. Then, shifting his attention, he asked, "Karmen, did you bring the wolf from the Red River Pack who was chasing Amelie last night?"
Amelie's breath caught in her throat. 'He caught one of the wolves who hunted me down?' Her shock was evident, but she quickly schooled her features, not wanting to give Alex the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.
Alex's attention snapped to Carl. The warrior who had served him loyally for years. 'When did Gabriel capture him? And how?'
"Speak, Carl. What orders did you receive from your alpha?" Gabriel commanded.
Carl hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head in submission. "Sir, I was ordered to kill Amelie Conley along with my team," he confessed without hesitation.
Alex felt as if the ground had been ripped from beneath him. 'How could Carl betray him so easily?' Panic flashed in his eyes as he blinked rapidly, trying to form a response.
"So, Alex, will you speak the truth now?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes, I did that. But as the Alpha of Red River Pack I have the authority to punish the wolves, who choose to fool me. I don't think the Alpha Prince should have any problem in this," Alex asserted, holding the ground of his action.
Gabriel didn't stop Alex and let him speak.
He then glanced at Amelie and continued, "Your own family doesn't want you. I gave you everything and you dared come here and seduce another man!"
Alex didn't hesitate in accusing Amelie. He knew that Gabriel would never punish him because the Alpha King respected his father a lot. And if he would reveal his fear to Gabriel, it was a game over for him.
"Shut up, Alex. I never seduced another man," Amelie snapped, her chest rising and falling rapidly as frustration burned inside her. "I accepted your rejection, yet you sent your wolves after me, to kill me and my baby. I heard it with my own ears. You were my mate, but you cheated on me with Flora. If you wanted to leave, why didn't you just do it before? Why did you have to take me as your mate and destroy me?"
Alex scoffed. "Because you lied about carrying my child. Prince Gabriel, this woman has deceived you as well. She's pregnant with some pathetic omega's blood and dares to accuse me of being her ex-mate. Don't believe her lies. I'll take her back and punish her accordingly," he declared, stepping forward with dangerous intent.
Amelie's heart pounded as she instinctively pressed her back on the couch. But before Alex could reach her, Gabriel moved.
In the blink of an eye, Gabriel was in front of Alex, his violet eyes glowing with lethal intensity.
Then, his hand shot out and fingers tightening around Alex's throat.
"I warned you, Alex, I don't tolerate liars." Gabriel finally spoke. "You have a talent for twisting your own faults onto others, but do you take me for a fool? Your scent was all over Amelie last night while she ran for her life. You tried to kill her, and now you dare to play the victim?" His fingers pressed harder, cutting off Alex's air.
Alex gasped, his hands clawing at Gabriel's wrist, but the Alpha Prince's grip was fiercer. His legs kicked as he struggled, unable even to beg for his life.
Amelie trembled and she rose to her feet. "Gabriel, you shouldn't—"
"Stay out of this. I'll make the final judgement in my own way," Gabriel interrupted.
Without another word, he shoved Alex backward.
Alex crashed to the floor, coughing violently as he finally sucked in air. But before he could recover, Gabriel's boot struck his ribs, sending him skidding across the floor like a discarded piece of trash.
Alex groaned in pain, his body went numb from the impact as he slammed against the far wall. Before he could even think of escaping, Gabriel was already in front of him.
Gabriel pressed his boot against Alex's chest, pinning him in place.
"Now, tell me the truth." Gabriel commanded.
His hand slipped into his overcoat, and a silver dagger gleamed as he drew it out. Gabriel twirled the dagger once between his fingers before crouching slightly, lowering it toward Alex's trembling lips. "One more lie," he murmured, his violet eyes held him, "and I'll rip your mouth right off."
Alex's entire began trembling in fear. His pride shattered which he held earlier from the Dark Tyrant, and he realized he made a grave mistake by lying to him.
"Your father... if he finds out about this, he may punish you, Prince Gabriel. Are you going to protect a worthless woman like her?" Alex still didn't stop commenting on Amelie, painting her as the culprit.
Gabriel let out a sinister smile. "You think King Raiden Sinclair's name is enough to terrify me. I'll send your body in a finely crafted coffin to your family. Consider it as a generous farewell gift from me." The pointed silver dagger's blade reached Alex's cheek and he cried in excruciating pain as a thin line of blood trickled down his cheek.
Amelie's eyes had widened in both fear and shock. She never imagined Gabriel to be this ruthless. As the rumors said he didn't even fear the Alpha King, his own father.
"Amelie, please for-forgive me. Please... please ask the prince to stop!" Alex shouted at the top of his lungs while pleading for his life from Amelie.
"Even if she forgives you, I won't. You dared to lie before me, Alex and even tried threatening me," Gabriel said and applied a little more pressure on the dagger in his hand.