Amelie gazed out of the window as the car rolled through the grand entrance of the Sinclair estate.
But this was no ordinary estate, nothing like the lavish yet predictable homes of other alphas. This was something else entirely, something beyond words.
As the car came to a smooth stop before a sprawling marble mansion, Amelie barely had time to gather her thoughts before the doors were opened. Stepping out, her eyes swept over the scene before her.
Lined up in perfect formation, a row of servants stood with their heads bowed. Their reverence was unsettling, a sight that felt plucked from a forgotten era.
'Are we in old times? Why are they all bowing to him?' she wondered, a flicker of unease creeping into her chest.
"Welcome to my abode, Amelie," Gabriel's deep voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. "Shall we go in?" He asked.
Amelie simply nodded and followed Gabriel inside. Settling onto the plush couch, she let her gaze wander over the intricate carvings and towering chandeliers.
"Gabriel," she began, shifting her focus back to him, "I forgot to ask you—which pack do you belong to? Are you the Alpha of your pack?"
Gabriel reached for the glass of water placed on the tray by a waiting servant. "I don't belong to any pack," he answered simply, taking a slow sip.
Amelie frowned. "What? Then... are you from a rogue pack?"
"No." His reply was curt.
"Miss, here's the water for you," the servant said humbly, offering her a glass.
She accepted it without a word, her thoughts still circling around Gabriel's mysterious status. Who was he, then? A lone wolf without a pack, yet living in a place grander than any Alpha she had ever known? It didn't make sense.
Before she could press further, an older man stepped into the room.
"My lord, your father has sent an invitation for the annual gala," the man, whom Amelie assumed was the butler, spoke with reverence. "You should attend this year."
Gabriel barely spared him a glance. "I'm not interested."
Amelie raised an eyebrow, lowering her glass to the table. "Why are you refusing to go?" she asked, genuinely curious. "I've heard a lot about the gala. It's a perfect event to find your mate." Her eyes gleamed with interest as she spoke.
Gabriel finally looked at her. "Why do I need a mate when I have you?"
His words stiffened everyone present in the room.
Amelie blinked, caught completely off guard. Was he... joking?
She swallowed, regaining her composure. "I—I'm thankful that you saved my life, but... I can't stay with you forever," she asserted.
"I'm Gabriel Sinclair," he said.
Sinclair.
The surname rang a bell in Amelie's mind. She had heard it before—but where? Her brows furrowed slightly as she searched her memory. And then it struck her.
The Sinclair family. The royal bloodline.
For generations, the Sinclairs had ruled over the werewolf nation, their dominance unchallenged for hundreds of years. The current Alpha King had three sons and a daughter, each renowned in their own right. But among them, one name stood out in whispers and rumors.
Gabriel Sinclair—the Dark Alpha Prince.
Her breath caught in her throat.
'I... I spent a night with the Alpha Prince!'
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she forgot to blink as she gaped at him.
Gabriel, lounging effortlessly, smirked as if he could read every thought running through her mind.
"Y-Your Highness, I—I..." Amelie stammered, her pulse quickening in fear. Had she really been so casual with him all this time?
Gabriel was known to be the most ruthless among all his brothers. Even the Alpha King was upset with his ways. But the most troublesome fact about him was that he once tried killing his own brothers and sisters. Those were rumors, still many would say they were true.
Amelie fiddled with her fingers in fear.
Gabriel, however, remained unfazed. "We're in the 21st century, Amelie. Just call me Gabriel. There's no need for such formalities," he stated, his tone calm yet firm.
Then, without missing a beat, he turned his attention to the butler. "Albus, I'll attend the gala this year. You can send a message to my father. Also, assign a maid to assist Amelie. Have you arranged the wardrobe for her?"
Albus gave a respectful nod. "Yes, my Lord. I took care of it this morning. I would request Miss Amelie to check it once, and if she requires more dresses, I will contact Mr. Wellington tomorrow."
Gabriel nodded approvingly. "Good."
Amelie sat frozen, struggling to grasp what was happening. A wardrobe? A personal maid? Why was he offering her all of that?
"I don't need all of that. You've already helped me enough. I have yet to pay you," Amelie murmured, lowering her gaze.
Gabriel leaned back, watching her with an unreadable expression. "Don't worry. I'll collect my payment every day," he stated smoothly.
Something in his tone sent a shiver down Amelie's spine. Her heart pounded as she quickly stood up, ready to leave. What kind of payment was he talking about? The thought made her shiver.
'He definitely wants to use my body.'
Her fingers curled into fists as she swallowed hard. 'I'm stuck. When he told me his name last night, I should have known it was Gabriel Sinclair.'
Without another word, she silently followed Butler Albus out of the room, her mind racing.
As soon as she was gone, Gabriel's smirk faded. He turned to Karmen with a cold gaze. "I have a task for you. Find out who Amelie's former mate was."
Karmen's eyes widened. "She had a mate!?"
Gabriel hummed in confirmation, swirling the glass of water in his hand. "Hmm. He rejected her yesterday. Find out who he is and what he does."
Karmen hesitated before nodding. "Alright. But I have to ask—why did you choose her? She doesn't seem like a strong wolf to me."
Gabriel's lips curled into a smirk, but his golden eyes darkened. "She chose me first."
That was all he said.
Karmen knew better than to question him further. Gabriel Sinclair was a man of few words, and when he gave an order, it was final.
"Understood. I'll have the answer by this evening," Karmen said before swiftly leaving.
Gabriel knew Amelie wanted to leave his side too. What she didn't know that she was his now.