Amelie had been restless all evening. Time and again, she picked up her phone, her thumb hovering over her mother’s number, but she never pressed call. Despite the growing ache in her chest, she couldn’t bring herself to reach out.
Just then, the door creaked softly, and Gabriel stepped onto the balcony of her room.
"Amelie, why aren’t you asleep yet?" he asked, concern etched into his voice.
She turned to face him, her arms wrapped around herself as if to hold her nerves together. "I’ve tried... but every time I lie down, the anxiety worsens," she admitted. "I keep thinking about my mother. I don’t know why, but I have this awful feeling something’s wrong. What if Alex tries to hurt her or Dad? I know I shouldn’t care... after everything, I shouldn’t. But I can’t shake this feeling."
Gabriel stepped closer. "Your sister was arrested today," he said softly. "It’s not surprising that your parents are under tremendous stress. Maybe that’s why you’re sensing something... off."
"Oh. Flora is arrested," Amelie sighed. "They must be devastated. I ran away from the house while my sister committed such a crime. They both must be wondering what kind of daughters they have. Am I bad daughter? Mom kept pleading to me to give them a chance, but I just ignored her."
Gabriel held her both hands and caressed them. "You aren’t a bad daughter. You ran away because you didn’t have any trust left on them. And you think, I’ll let go of Alex easily. My eyes are on him. I am looking for that one chance to rip him to the shards. So, don’t call yourself bad. You didn’t know the first mate you met would betray you like this. You never imagined that he would reject you and your pup in the most brutal way. All you did was an attempt to survive for your pup’s sake. That night I saw everything in your eyes. You were scared for Noa’s life more than yours. You aren’t bad, but a woman with grace."
Gabriel’s such words full of warmth made Amelie’s heart flutter with gratitude. Only he saw such things in her. She simply hugged him, her forehead resting on his chest.
"I will call my mother then. I think I should talk to her once," Amelie stated, pulling away.
"If that’s what you desire, then you should," Gabriel asserted, peering into her eyes.
Amelie’s mind was clearer now. She knew what she had to do. She lifted her phone and dialed the number of her mother.
However, the number didn’t connect, saying the network issues.
"It’s not connecting," Amelie murmured.
"Try after some time. I do think your parents will come here since Flora has been arrested," Gabriel stated. His fingers tenderly brushed the hair strands behind her ear. "You need to rest, mate. You are carrying a pup," he stated with a concerned gaze.
"When will Flora arrive?" Amelie questioned.
"By the midnight because she is coming in a special guarded plane," Gabriel answered.
"Oh. Then, she will be locked in a dungeon?" Amelie inquired.
"Yes," Gabriel replied. "I have no intention to give her a special treatment," he asserted. "Now, enough of your questions."
With one swift motion, Gabriel carried Amelie with one of his arms to the side, flustering her, and took her inside the room.
As he settled her on bed, his body hovered above her.
"Only three days left for our wedding. Are you excited?" Gabriel queried.
Amelie smiled. "Of course!" she smiled, her eyes sparkling with joy.
He kissed the tip of her nose before capturing her lips into a warm kiss.
~~~~~
Samyra and David were nearing the border of their pack, the road ahead cloaked in darkness. With no flights available to San Ravendale at such a late hour, they had no choice but to make the long journey by car.
"Did you hear that?" Samyra asked as she stared out the window.
"Hear what?" David responded, glancing at her with a puzzled look.
"Wolves," she whispered, eyes narrowing. "I just heard them growling... close by."
David’s expression darkened with worry, and he quickly leaned forward. "Drive faster," he instructed the driver, his voice tense.
Samyra clutched the edge of her seat, her voice dropping to a murmur. "What if Alex sent those wolves after us?"
David glanced at her sharply. "You think he would go that far? Why would he do that?"
"Don’t forget," Samyra said bitterly, "he tried to kill Amelie. If he could do that, what’s stopping him from getting rid of us too? And if he ever cared about Flora, even a little, he would’ve stood by her. But no—he let her fall."
She exhaled shakily, her gaze fixed out the window. "Flora disappointed me more than anyone... but Amelie... For her, my heart only shatters. I’ve been the worst mother to her."
"Sir, the wolves are approaching fast. The car’s already at its top speed," the driver informed them. "Should I take the shortcut?"
"No," David said firmly. "Stick to the main road. The shortcut’s too risky. We’re more likely to be ambushed there."
The tension inside the car thickened as the howls grew louder behind them. The sound of paws pounding against the ground echoed closer.
"If we get caught," David said grimly, glancing at his wife and the driver, "you two should run. I’ll hold them off. Once you cross the pack’s border, they won’t dare follow."
"We will fight together," Samyra insisted.
"Not when we’re outnumbered by a full patrol of warrior wolves," David said. "Survival matters more now. One of us has to make it to Prince Gabriel... to stop him from punishing Flora," David said. "I was a fool to believe our Alpha. I should’ve known that Alex has turned against us. He’s no longer the man we once trusted. He’s our enemy now."
Samyra’s jaw tightened as she clenched her fists in fury.
Just then, a massive warrior wolf landed in front of their speeding car.