Chapter 649
Flora’s feet skidded on the gravel as Gabriel’s shadow loomed over her.
“Where are you going?” he demanded, taking a step forward. “I disappeared from the mansion for one hour and you decided to step out of here p>
“It’s not like that, Your Highness. I-I Flora stuttered, her breath hitching as Gabriel’s hand suddenly clawed her neck. He didn’t squeeze, but the heat from his skin and the sheer power in his grip made her blood run cold.
“Are you an idiot? If you want to die this eagerly, then tell me. I will put an end to you myself!” Gabriel’s roar echoed through the mansion’a grounds.
“Let her go,” Casaio interjected, placing a firm hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“Say it—say that you want to die,” Gabriel persisted, his thumb pressing firmly against the pulse point in her neck. “If not for Amelie, I wouldn’t have given you a second chance. What is wrong with your head? First, you hid Alex’s presence from me. Now, you’re running straight to him, aren’t you p>
Casaio stepped in more forcefully, prying Gabriel’s hand away. Flora collapsed onto the dry ground, her body racked with sobs as she clutched her throat.
“You’re scaring her. She’s already distressed,” Casaio whispered, trying to pull Gabriel back from the edge of his wolf’s temper.
Gabriel ignored him, looming over the weeping girl. “Tell Alex to meet you at the Rosey Church,” he ordered, his eyes glowing with a terrifying intensity. “Since you want to play the hero and seek death so badly, then fine. We will use you as the bait p>
Flora kept her head bowed, her tears hitting the dirt, until Gabriel barked at her again.
“Have you lost your hearing?” This time, his inner wolf surfaced, his growl ripping through his chest that made the very air vibrate with menace.
Zander and others came running there. Upon seeing the confrontation, Zander rushed forward and pulled up Flora.
“Call Alex. Tell him to meet you at Rosey Church,” Gabriel commanded. His voice was far more terrifying than his previous shouting.
“Your Highness, please don’t—” Zander began to protest, but Gabriel’s violet eyes flared with a dominant light that forced Zander to lower his eyes.
“Stay quiet and stay away from this. I will handle this the way I want,” Gabriel pronounced. The sheer weight of his Alpha command forced Zander to bow his head in submission.
With trembling hands, Flora pulled the phone from her jacket pocket. She dialed the number, her breath hitching as the line connected.
“Meet me at Rosey Church in an hour,” she said, her voice brittle.
“Not there. Let’s meet at the Forest of Death,” Alex suggested.
Flora looked up at Gabriel, who gave her nod.
“Okay,” Flora whispered. She was about to end the call when Alex’s voice sharpened.
“You won’t tell anyone a single word about this, Flora. If I see a single wolf except you, Amelie dies p>
“I wouldn’t have called you if I wanted to tell them,” Flora answered, suppressing a sob with a strength she didn’t know she possessed. The line went dead.
“Cas, go to the palace and stay close to Amelie and Noah. Remove Ashna from her sight,” Gabriel commanded.
“Why?” Casaio frowned, his eyes searching his brother’s face for an explanation.
“Because I can’t trust her either. You’ll stay with Amelie and Noah all the time. Don’t move your gaze away from them even for a second. I’ll put an end to Alex here,” Gabriel stated. The suspicion regarding Ashna had been simmering, and he would not leave his mate and son vulnerable to a potential double-cross while he was occupied in the woods.
Casaio nodded solemnly, his form blurring before he disappeared into thin air.
Gabriel turned his gaze toward the others. “Flora and I will go to the Forest of Death. Everyone else will stay inside this mansion. And when I said stay inside, that means no one steps out until I command it,” he pronounced.
Karmen nodded, signaling the guards to fall back and secure the perimeter of the house. Zander opened his mouth to protest, his heart aching at the thought of Flora walking into that nightmare alone with a man as ruthless as Gabriel, but one look at the Prince’s glowing violet eyes silenced him. He lowered his head, choosing to let Gabriel do whatever he deemed fit.
Gabriel grabbed Flora by the arm. “Let’s go. It’s time to see if you’re as brave as you claim to be.” And with that, he disappeared with her.
“Amelie, why didn’t you tell me anything? Alex is back!” Katelyn crossed her arms over her chest with a hurt and frustration. She turned her gaze toward the servant standing by the door. “Leave the room,” she commanded. Ashna bowed low, and slipped out into the palace corridor.
“We didn’t wish to disturb you, and… How did you even get in here?” Amelie asked, surprised by the sudden appearance.
“I can teleport! Did you forget?” Katelyn arched her eyebrows playfully and walked over to the bed. She sat on the edge of the silk duvet and reached out to stroke Noah’s soft cheek. “Say hi to me, Noah p>
Noah didn’t share the enthusiasm. He let out a tiny huff, turned his face away, and buried it firmly in Amelie’s chest.
“HAH!” Katelyn chuckled at the toddler’s blatant rejection. “Does he hate me already p>
“No,” Amelie replied with a tired, short laugh, stroking Noah’s hair to soothe him. “Gabriel isn’t here, so he’s acting grumpy again. He always gets restless when his father is away for too long p>
“Oh.” Katelyn’s expression shifted to a more serious one as she looked at Amelie. “Yesterday, at a late hour, Flora seemed terrified. There was a man in the elevator. We thought he was just a staff member and even checked the CCTVs, but we found nothing suspicious. Then today, all of this happens. Mom told me everything on the phone, so I had to come. Everyone is in San Ravendale and you’re alone here p>
“Thanks, Kate. Your presence has truly put me at rest,” Amelie stated, feeling a genuine sense of relief. Having another member of the royal family nearby made the palace walls feel a little less cold.
A sharp knock occurred on the door at that very moment.
“I’ll check!” Katelyn spring to her feet, teleporting the last two steps to the door. She pulled it open only to find her eldest brother standing there, his expression grim.
“You!” the two of them spoke at the same time, eyes wide with surprise.
“I came to stay close to Amelie, Brother,” Katelyn explained, regaining her composure. “But weren’t you supposed to be in San Ravendale p>
“Gabriel asked me to stay close to Amelie and Noah, so I came here,” Casaio answered, his gaze immediately moving past her to sweep the room, checking every corner and window. He looked tense and also on high alert.
“They are safe,” Katelyn said, stepping aside to let him walk in.
“Amelie, you won’t mind me being here, will you?” Casaio asked.
“No. But Zilia must be wanting you at home,” Amelie stated.
“Zilia is already in the palace with Mother. She arrived not long ago,” Casaio replied with a smile. “You must be tired holding Noah. Give him to me p>
“I don’t think Noah will come to you, Brother Cas. He’s acting grumpy,” Amelie answered, smiling.
“Gabriel is heading to end Alex,” Casaio then confided in both his sister-in-law and sister.
“Alone?” Amelie asked in a panicked look.
“Yes. And it’s better that way,” Casaio replied.