Among everyone present in the hall, the one who seemed even more terrified than Amelie was Alex. His palms were clammy, and his heart pounded wildly in his chest.
But as he watched the Luna Queen turn her fury toward Amelie, accusing her of betrayal and deceit, and saw Gabriel rising in her defense, a flicker of relief crossed Alex’s face. Perhaps, his web of lies wouldn’t unravel. At least not today.
Still, one question haunted him. ’Why did Gabriel just claim Amelie and the pup as his own?’
"Gabriel, calm down. Mabel, that’s enough," Raidan’s firm voice finally cut through the rising chaos.
"Calm down?" Gabriel snapped in fury. "How can I, when she speaks with such cruelty without knowing the truth? Who gave her the right to say those things to Amelie?" His gaze flicked toward his mother, no warmth in it, only hatred. "I made it clear to her last night. Amelie and I are mates. And after today, I refuse to stay here any longer."
"You want to take a woman who’s—"
"You never even cared for me," Gabriel interrupted in his cold voice. "Not when I needed you. So why pretend now?"
Queen Mabel’s lips parted, but no words came. Gabriel took a step closer, fury simmering in his eyes.
"You could’ve asked, just once, why Amelie ran from the pack, why she ended up alone. You never did. Instead, you jumped straight to judgment. You’re a mother, and you have a daughter of your own, yet you show no respect for another woman’s suffering. I get it. You hate me. But you don’t get to project that onto my mate."
Without waiting for a reply, Gabriel turned and reached for Amelie’s hand.
"Let’s go."
She moved with him, but before they could take a full step, David stepped forward.
"Amelie, come home. Let’s talk first," he said. Queen Mabel had strictly instructed him to take Amelie back at any cost and he couldn’t simply fail. Then, turning to Gabriel, "Prince Gabriel, with all due respect, you can’t take her with you. She’s still my daughter and—"
"I’m not your daughter."
Amelie declared, her eyes were watery. She looked at Gabriel and gently squeezed his hand. "I need to say something before we leave."
Gabriel nodded, releasing her hand without hesitation.
Amelie turned to face the Queen and the King.
"I wish I could have told you all of this in private, Your Majesty. But you chose confrontation instead. I understand everyone has a different approach to know the truth. I ran away from my pack because my mate rejected me after I discovered his infidelity with my own sister. The man you summoned today, Alex Morgan, was my ex-mate. I got pregnant because of him."
Amelie didn’t fear anyone this time as she revealed the truth to everyone present in the hall.
Alex lowered his gaze, unable to meet the eyes of anyone, shame anchoring his spine and sealing his lips.
David stood frozen. Disbelief contorted his face as he learned Flora and Alex betrayed Amelie.
"Your Majesty," she began, her voice steady and clear, "tell me, what would you do when your own family stops believing you? When your own sister turns her back on you? And when the one you once called your mate tries to end your life?"
Amelie wiped the tears from her right cheek and continued. "The night it happened," and her hand drifting protectively to her stomach.
"I made a choice to leave the pack and never look back. But what Alex did..." Her eyes darkened, still fresh with the memory from that night. "He went beyond betrayal. Yes, Alex Morgan was my former mate. And he gave the order to kill me and my pup."
"I fled for my life... and my child’s," Amelie whispered. "All I wanted was a new beginning. That’s when I found Gabriel. That night, I asked for his help and he saved me. He didn’t ask who I was. He didn’t care about rank or blood. He just helped me."
Her voice quivered, but it didn’t break.
"I didn’t lie about Gabriel being my second-chance mate. And even if I am an omega, looked down upon by all of you, I carry life inside me. A child who is not filthy. A child I will protect with every breath. I will raise them with all the love I was denied."
All eyes turned to Alex. David followed the stares, looking at him with dawning disgust.
"I’m not asking Gabriel to take responsibility for my pup," Amelie added, soft but firm. "But I want to be with him. Because I like him. What he’s given me in such little time kindness, dignity, warmth, is more than anyone else ever has. And in return, I want to give him what no one else ever did... love, respect, and comfort. I wish to go with the path that the Moon Goddess has carved for me. She’s the one, who decides all of the wolves’ fates. And my fate is sealed with Gabriel."
Gabriel felt immense joy to hear those words. Amelie chose him and didn’t falter before the Queen to speak the truth about her feelings.
"I’m just Amelie, a woman who’s finding her way to survive in a world, where women like me are judged. My pup is my alone and it’s not filthy at all," she repeated her words.
Gabriel held her hand, giving the comfort that he was there. They were ready to leave when Raidan spoke.
"Don’t leave. Stay for the gala. It’s a father’s request, not a king’s," Raidan said. Gabriel had come after such a long time, so he didn’t wish him to leave in anger.
"Sure," Gabriel agreed and left with Amelie for the eastern palace.
"Alex, did you really get her pregnant?" David questioned.
Alex couldn’t speak and his silence give the answer to David.
"I think you two need to talk about this outside the palace," Casaio said, finally coming downstairs.
Meanwhile, Mabel walked away in anger.