"Alright. I trust you," Amelie said softly, rising from the recliner. She was about to leave when Gabriel stopped her with a gentle tone.
"You can sleep here if you want."
Amelie looked at him, slightly surprised, then gave a small nod. "Okay. But I need to switch off the lights in my room first."
"Sure. Go ahead," Gabriel replied, his gaze following her as she walked out.
Once she left the room, Gabriel picked up his phone and saw a message from Karmen.
It is someone known around you.
Gabriel’s expression darkened as he quickly typed a response.
Who?
A moment later, Karmen replied.
I’m still accessing it. But I think someone close has done it. By tomorrow, I’ll have the answer. Good night.
Okay. Good night.
Gabriel placed his phone on the nightstand and leaned back, running a hand through his hair. His mind was already racing.
"Casaio?" he murmured under his breath.
He was the only one who had shown clear disapproval of his relationship with pregnant Amelie. "But can he stoop so low?" Gabriel mumbled in skepticism. His gaze drifted toward the door just as it opened. Amelie stepped in quietly, closing it behind her with a soft click.
She walked toward the bed without looking at him. "I’ll take that side," she said but avoiding his eyes.
Gabriel watched her as she settled on her chosen side, pulling the blanket up and placing a pillow right in the center of the bed like a soft barrier.
"Seriously, kitten? You’re creating a partition?" he asked, half amused, half in disbelief as a grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Ah. I don’t want to invade your side and disturb your sleep," Amelie replied.
Gabriel chuckled and climbed onto the bed, effortlessly removing the pillow she had placed between them. "I’d actually love it if you invaded my space," he said with a teasing smirk. "And aren’t I your mate? You’re supposed to like my musky scent."
Deep within him, Valko, his wolf, let out a low, eager growl of approval. It wasn’t just Gabriel—both man and wolf had long yearned for the day a woman would catch his scent and not turn away.
Amelie bit her bottom lip and hummed softly.
"Tell me, how does my scent feel to you?" Gabriel asked, his violet eyes fixed on her.
"I already told you," she replied, trying to suppress the warmth creeping up her face. But before she could react, he suddenly rested his head on her lap, catching her off guard.
Her breath hitched. "Gabriel—"
"I want to know more," he cut in. "Besides, we’re not going to the office tomorrow, so we can stay up a little later." A flicker of excitement shone in his smirk.
Amelie hesitated for a moment before answering. "It’s... deep, like an earthy fragrance. Slightly sweet." Her words were simple, yet she struggled to find more to describe it.
Gabriel hummed in thought. "I wonder what your scent is like. Fresh summer lilies? Spring flowers? Or maybe something like the smell of rain?" His voice carried a tinge of curiosity.
Amelie stared at him, realizing that beneath his cold exterior, there was a warmth she hadn’t expected. He had spent years watching other alphas recognize their mates through unique fragrances, yet he had been searching in vain. No matter how much he tried, he had never been able to catch the scent of his own mate.
She gently ran her fingers through his dark hair. "I wonder why you can’t pick up mine," she murmured.
"The Moon Goddess hates me," Gabriel whispered.
"Don’t say that. She loves every wolf she has created," Amelie replied gently.
Gabriel let out a dry chuckle. "No. She hates me."
Amelie frowned. "But earlier, you said that the Moon Goddess is the one who brought us together. If she truly hated you, that wouldn’t have happened."
Gabriel looked up at her. "Because she loves you," he countered.
Amelie couldn’t help but laugh at his reasoning. "You talk like a child," she teased, shaking her head.
Gabriel was mesmerized by the sight of her laughter. When was the last time someone’s joy had drawn him in like this?
Never.
He had always found laughter, especially from the women he had casual relationships with, annoying. But with Amelie, it was different. Her laughter didn’t irritate him. It fascinated him. It made him want to see more of it.
Gabriel sat up when Amelie stopped laughing. "Are we sleeping then?"
"Amelie, can I touch your belly?" Gabriel asked.
She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request, though deep down, she already knew why. "Do you want to...?"
"Yes," he interrupted gently. "I want to feel the pup’s heartbeats."
Amelie hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted her night top, exposing her belly. Gabriel reached out, his hand hovering above her skin for a second before lowering it with care. The warmth of his palm made her catch her breath.
As his hand rested over her womb, a faint violet glow began to shimmer beneath his fingers. It looked ethereal. Amelie’s eyes widened in surprise, watching the glow pulse gently like a heartbeat.
Gabriel closed his eyes, focusing, his brows twitching slightly in concentration. "The embryo has grown faster than we expected," he murmured as he opened his eyes, meeting her stunned gaze.
"Really?" Amelie asked, her voice laced with wonder. "Doctor Skye said I can’t see the ultrasound until two weeks from now."
"Of course," Gabriel nodded. "But I can feel it... the pup is growing faster than expected. You might give birth sooner than we thought."
Her heart skipped a beat. The thought of holding her baby, of feeling that warmth against her chest, overwhelmed her. "I can’t wait to hold the baby in my arms," she whispered, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.
Gabriel gave her a soft smile. He gently adjusted her posture, making sure she was comfortable, then slowly withdrew his hand from her belly.
"You’re going to be an amazing mother, Amelie," he said. "And this pup... they’re lucky to have you."