Gabriel’s chest rumbled, the wolf inside him was excited to mate with Amelie. The mere scent of her pheromones, wrapping him in a way that turning away was impossible. He pulled away breathlessly, giving them enough air to breathe.
"Ame," he called out her name in his deep voice.
"You call me so affectionately that it makes my heart flutter," Amelie murmured, keeping her hands on his chest while looking into his eyes. "Your eyes sparkle more now," she murmured, bringing her hand to his face when he caught it.
Gabriel sniffed the scent, his lips kissing her palm as he closed his eyes. Then, he forcefully pulled away, "We must go downstairs."
"Hmm." Amelie agreed with him and picked up her clutch from the chair. Hooking her arm with his, they left the rooftop.
"The food was amazing. We never ate anything like before that. The taste... It’s still in our mouths," Amelie said, smiling.
"We are happy you both enjoyed the meals," the elderly woman said. "Since it was the first time Prince Gabriel visited this place with his mate, we won’t take any payment," she added.
"Don’t say that," Gabriel said. He put the money on the counter table despite the refusal. "Just take it as a gesture of goodwill, Grandma," he said with a smile.
The elderly couple bowed to him and told Rooney to see them off.
Once they stepped out of the restaurant, Rooney thanked them for eating at his grandparents’ restaurant. "It wasn’t as nice as those fancy ones, but in terms of taste, no one can beat them," he stated.
"I agree," Amelie replied with a smile. "You study in school, right?"
"Yes. I help my grandparents after finishing the school," Rooney answered.
"That’s wonderful! We will keep coming here. It’s not a crowded place, so it’s good for our prince to avert the limelight," Amelie said, looking at Gabriel.
"You are welcome any time here, Miss!" Rooney said excitedly. "Please drive safely," he said, bowing to them.
As he turned around, Amelie stopped him.
"Take a picture with Prince Gabriel," she suggested.
"Pardon me? I can’t do that, Miss," Rooney got flustered and nervous.
"Why? Won’t it help your grandparents more? You can stick out photo at the front desk," Gabriel suggested.
"That’s indeed a nice idea, Your Highness. I thought you wouldn’t be interested," Rooney said, his hands turning sweaty with anticipation.
"That’s not true. You can take out your phone and give it to Amelie. She will click a picture of us," Gabriel suggested.
Rooney nodded and pulled out the phone from his pocket. He handed it to Amelie, who smiled at him.
Rooney stood next to Gabriel with a nervous expression with a small smile on his face. Gabriel gave out a nice smile and Amelie clicked their picture.
She gave the phone back to Rooney, who thanked them.
"You are a beta. Are you getting trained well?" Gabriel inquired.
"I don’t want to train, Your Highness. My parents died being warriors and I don’t like it," Rooney truthfully told him.
"I’m sorry to hear that. But it’s good to train for your own self-defense," Gabriel advised. "You should go inside and help out your grandparents," he stated.
Rooney thanked them once again before walking inside with tears of happiness brimming in his eyes.
"I did something like this for the first time," Gabriel said. "I do feel good," he added. Then, holding Amelie’s hand, he whispered, "Let’s go near the stream."
Arriving there with hands-in-hand, they both stood near the lamppost on which electric lantern was hanging.
"It’s not good to go close to the water at night. So, let’s just stay here," Gabriel opined.
Amelie agreed with him.
"I was wondering if we should start planning for Noa’s toys. I want to make a big cradle for Noa. Of course, you will select its design," Gabriel said.
Amelie was astonished seeing how much he catered the needs of the upcoming pup. ’It isn’t even his, but he acts like a real father to Noa,’ Amelie thought.
"Also, I wonder if you want to invite your parents in our marriage," Gabriel said.
"I’ll think about it," Amelie told him. She couldn’t refuse for it as for some reason her mother’s face flashed before her eyes.
"You should," Gabriel stated.
"What about the Queen, your mother? How will you convince here to be an attendee?" Amelie inquired.
"I’ve no idea. Even if I’ll ask her, she may say something bitter. I will just send the invitation to my father, mentioning my mother’s name too in it. Rest is upto her if she wants to be a part of it or not," Gabriel affirmed. He hung his arm around her shoulder and continued,
"Don’t you feel much more connected to me after the mark?" He asked.
Amelie tilted her head to look into his eyes. "I do. I must have not showed much reaction to it because somewhere, I was hesitant to believe it was real. Sometimes it gets hard to trust in the bonds, which broke once. I feel overly excited around you. But I–I desire to wait till our wedding night. I hope you don’t mind that either," she whispered.
"Absolutely not," Gabriel replied. He kissed her cheek out of the blue, making her blush.
"Gabriel, thank you." Amelie turned to him, holding his shirt and kissed him this time.
Then, a few seconds later, she pulled away while peering into his eyes.
"Don’t thank me all the time. It will make me feel burdened," Gabriel pinched her cheeks with a small smile, reaching his eyes.
"Just accept it. You deserve all of it," Amelie whispered.
She took a few steps away from him and began walking along the bank of the stream. Gabriel caught her hand, matching her steps. "Don’t ever leave me. Even if the worst situation arises, I want you to trust me more than anyone. I hope you keep that in your mind," he asserted, his eyes carrying the concern that there might be forces, which would want to separate them in future.