Chapter 65
Amelie gently dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin, her gaze settling on Gabriel as he swirled the last remnants of wine in his glass before finishing it in a sip.
“Is there something on your mind?” Gabriel asked, setting the glass down and meeting her eyes.
“You had a meeting earlier today,” Amelie said, folding the napkin and placing it beside her plate. “I hope everything went well p>
Gabriel gave a small nod. “Yes, nothing urgent. But tomorrow, we have an appointment with the doctor. We’ll head to the hospital first, then stop by the company afterwards p>
“Skye told you?” she asked.
He nodded again. “She did. Are you feeling excited p>
“I am,” Amelie replied, her hand instinctively brushing over her belly. “Everything’s moving so quickly. The pup is growing faster than I expected p>
“That’s true,” he agreed, pushing back his chair and rising to his feet. Amelie followed suit, and as they stepped away from the table, the servants quietly moved in to clear the dishes.
As they walked down the hallway, Gabriel glanced sideways at her. “Your mother called earlier p>
Amelie’s expression shifted subtly, her steps slowing. “I know. I refused to see her p>
Gabriel didn’t speak, waiting for her to continue.
“The first time you gave me the phone, I called my house. I wanted to talk to them and tell them how Alex wanted to take my life,” she admitted. “But I didn’t say anything when I heard their conversation. I just listened. I heard them… talking about how peaceful things had been since I ’disappeared.’ Like I was just… a burden lifted p>
A silence settled between them. “Even if you had wanted to see them, I wouldn’t have let them set foot in this estate. No one comes here without my permission. Especially not those who made you feel unwanted p>
Gabriel reached out, resting a protective hand on her shoulder and pulling her gently into his embrace.
“Let’s not think about them,” Gabriel said as they began ascending the stairs.
A soft smile curved on Amelie’s lips as they walked up the stairs together. The air around her grew subtly warmer, laced with an earthy scent tinged with sweetness. It curled into her senses, pulling her attention toward him. ’Is he releasing pheromones on purpose?’ she wondered, tilting her head slightly to glance at Gabriel.
But his expression was calm, almost distant in its serenity. There was no hint of mischief or intention in his face.
’Maybe I’m just more sensitive because of the pregnancy,’ she reasoned, brushing the thought away.
“Do you want to sleep alone tonight,” Gabriel’s voice broke into her thoughts, “or with me?” His fingers moved gently through her hair. “I don’t think I can let you sleep alone… but I still want to ask p>
“Together,” she replied without a second’s hesitation.
He smirked, clearly ready to tease.
“I–I said that because you’d have insisted anyway,” she added quickly, not wanting to sound too eager.
“Really?” Gabriel arched a brow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
“Don’t tease me,” Amelie murmured, ducking her head in embarrassment. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and moved to step away, but Gabriel’s hand swiftly caught her wrist, gently tugging her back into his space.
Before she could speak, his lips brushed softly against her earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine. She sucked in a breath just as his nose grazed the curve of her neck.
“Why do you smell so good?” he murmured, voice low and husky against her skin. For the first time, he was truly catching her natural scent — warm, soft, and alluring. It carried the freshness of morning dew laced with the delicate aroma of wildflowers, a fragrance so soothing it could calm even the most restless heart.
To Gabriel, it felt as though he were standing at the edge of a forest at dawn, where the first light touched the leaves and a cool breeze carried the sweet, earthy perfume of blooming flora. It was a scent that invited closeness.
Amelie’s breath hitched as she curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt. She could feel him sniffing her, the soft brush of his breath against her skin sending shivers down her spine.
“Amelie, your scent,” Gabriel finally murmured.
“My scent?” Her eyes fluttered open, caught between surprise and rising heat under the tender ministrations of his lips.
“You can… smell it?” she asked.
“Yes,” he breathed. “I felt it—it’s so alluring and calming. Like you were made to soothe the storm in me.” His arms tightened slightly around her, his hand resting protectively over her belly.
“Amelie, my mate… where have you been all these years?” Gabriel whispered as his eyes deepened into a stormy shade of violet. His wolf, Valko, surged forward with joy, a silent howl of recognition of their mate echoing within him.
Without another word, Gabriel swept her up into his arms, catching her by surprise. A soft gasp escaped her lips, but she didn’t resist, there was something possessive yet tender in his hold that made her heart race.
With hurried strides, he carried her to the room, and closed the door behind them. Within seconds, they were on bed. Before Amelie could even react to all of this, Gabriel’s face buried in the crook of her neck, his mouth began sucking on her skin.
“Ame,” Gabriel murmured his voice heavy with desire as he uttered the intimate nickname like a sacred vow. His hand glided over her body with reverence, fingertips tracing paths that ignited sparks along her skin. “You are mine, mate. Mine alone p>
His senses were clouded by her scent. It was so intoxicating that it had consumed his every thought, awakening a primal hunger within him in that very moment.
Amelie arched subtly into his touch, her breath catching. “Mmmm she couldn’t suppress the soft moan that escaped her lips and her heart began to thunder against her chest.
’I will mark her,’ Gabriel thought, biting a sensitive spot on her neck.