Chapter 645
Amelie fumbled at her silk pockets, her heart sinking when she found them empty. She hurried back into the bedchamber, her shoes clicking against the carpeted floor as she snatched her device from the nightstand. Without wasting a breath, she dialed Gabriel, only to be met with the sterile drone of a busy signal.
She redialed instantly, pacing toward the balcony as the call finally connected. Gabriel picked up on the second ring.
“Amelie, has Louis briefed you?” the first question he asked.
“He has. Why on earth did you leave alone? You should have waited for me,” Amelie snapped, her composure fracturing more in worry than anger. “And Alex… How is he even breathing? He met Flora! Why would she keep this from me p>
“It’s possible Ophelia resurrected him,” Gabriel replied in a grim tone.
Amelie’s heart thundered wildly against her ribs. “What? So that witch’s final act was to leave a man behind to hunt me p>
“Amelie, listen to me. Nothing is going to happen. I am here, and we are all on high alert. You and Noah are safe,” Gabriel stated, hoping she would calm down. He remembered her biggest worry was Alex. “As for Flora, she was silenced by threats against your parents and Zander. So much has transpired in a very short window of time p>
“If you need me, just call me,” she said, ready to support in every way she could. After all, Alex was her enemy, her ex-mate, who jeopardized everything in her life.
“For now, stay close to Noah. Move to my mother’s chambers immediately and remain there. Inform her of everything so she can tighten the palace security even further p>
“I understand,” Amelie whispered, ending the call. She took a steadying breath, looking up to find Louis watching her with a silent intensity.
“Thank you for staying here and informing me,” she said. “I’ll be moving to the Queen’s quarters with Noah,” she added. Louis offered a solemn nod, his gaze lingering on her as she disappeared back into the bedchamber.
Minutes later, she emerged, the weight of the little prince settled securely against her chest in a velvet-lined baby carrier. Behind her followed Ashna, clutching a heavy tapestry bag filled with the infant’s essentials.
“I will escort you to the Queen’s Quarters myself,” Louis stated, stepping aside to clear a path.
Amelie offered a grateful nod, and together they walked out of the room.
“Was Amelie upset with me? I swear, I never intended to align myself with Alex,” Flora sobbed, her voice trembling with a desperate plea for absolution. Gabriel offered no comfort, his gaze remaining icy and fixed upon her until the sharp vibration of his phone broke the silence. Seeing Casaio’s name on the screen, he answered immediately.
“I’ve reached the Red River Pack,” Casaio reported. “I have Zander. He’s safe, and so are his parents. Gabriel, I think it’s best if I bring them back to San Ravendale. They’ll be far more secure under the palace roof p>
“Is that even feasible?” Gabriel asked, his brow furrowing. “The distance is immense. You’ll exhaust your strength before you even reach the gates p>
“Leave that to me,” Casaio replied, his tone shifting to a confident, lighter note.
“Alright.” Gabriel cut the call and set the device on the teal cushion of the couch beside him.
Denzel stepped into the high-ceilinged drawing room and bowed to the Alpha Prince. Having flown back to the palace at San Ravendale before sunrise, he was a welcome sight; Gabriel finally had a trustworthy ally by his side.
“I have spoken with traffic control. Every CCTV feed in the city is being scrutinized to pinpoint Alex’s exact location,” Denzel reported, his voice echoing slightly against the marble walls. “In the meantime, I have ordered the royal guards and sentinels to be extra cautious regarding every vehicle entering the palace grounds. The situation is primarily under our control. Even the media is broadcasting his image, ensuring he cannot move through the kingdom unnoticed p>
“You did a great work,” Gabriel said, a slight frown appearing on his forehead though.
Carlos, on the other hand, gazed at Flora, who looked more scared about everything. He recalled his vision where he saw nothing about her. It was impossible for him not even have a glimpse of her future while with others he could easily do it.
’I need to keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn’t leave this mansion,’ Carlos thought. This was his attempt from not letting happen anything wrong to Flora. Though he knew his could never change her future, he decided to try for once.
“Amelie, you must eat. You cannot allow yourself to waste away,” Mabel urged, gesturing toward the spread prepared in the dining room.
“Mother, I appreciate your kindness, but food is the last thing on my mind,” Amelie replied, her voice fractured. Her hands shook as she clutched a silk shawl. “I’ve brought yet another problem over this family p>
Mabel shook her head firmly, reaching out to steady her. “Nonsense. This is Ophelia’s malice, nothing more. None of us could have anticipated such darkness p>
“The Alpha King will be here soon,” Louis added, standing guard near the doors. “He will undoubtedly insist you take your lunch. Gabriel will never let Alex draw breath near you or Noah. You know his strength better than anyone p>
“I’ll have lunch with you and the Alpha King, since you’re insisting so much,” Amelie answered, forcing a small, appreciative smile for Mabel.
“Wonderful. And don’t let your mind wander to dark places, dear,” Mabel pronounced with a maternal concern. “You and Gabriel have endured enough in this lifetime. Remember, evil never truly wins in the end. Keep that truth close to your heart p>
Mabel’s words were meant to be an anchor, but Amelie felt herself drifting into a storm of negativity. Despite the safety of the palace walls and the warmth of the winter sun streaming through the arched windows, she couldn’t shake the worry in her bones.
Her mind was a traitor, repeatedly playing the same horrific scene from six months ago. She could almost hear the low growls of the wolves and of Alex’s voice as he commanded his pack to tear her apart.
She looked down at her hands and realized she was shaking. To the world, Alex might not be a big threat, but to her, he was a nightmare that had just stepped back into her life.
“Your Highness, your phone… You forgot it in your room,” Ashna said, hurrying toward her and gasping for breath as she held out the device. Amelie took it with a grateful nod, her eyes immediately landing on a missed call from Gabriel.
She dialed his number back at once. When the call connected, the familiar depth of Gabriel’s voice filled her ears, grounding her instantly. “What are you doing p>
“I’m with the Royal Mother,” Amelie replied, her voice steadying as she watched Mabel.
Mabel offered a soft, knowing smile and stood from her chair. She moved gracefully toward the large canopy bed, sitting beside the sleeping Noah, who looked like a small, peaceful treasure tucked into the center of the soft duvet.
“I know you’re scared, Amelie,” Gabriel continued, his tone turning intimate and serious. “He was chasing you that day. I remember the terror in your eyes, and I know those memories don’t just vanish. But you have to remind yourself, you are no longer a wolf-less omega. You have Selene, a powerful wolf, within you now p>
Amelie felt a bit different as he spoke her wolf’s name.
“The woman who defeated the wolves that day and encountered me,” Gabriel said. “Alex can’t even touch a single strand of hair on you. That is who you are, Amelie. I promised you then that I would eliminate every danger from your life, and that promise remains intact. I will handle this myself. Do not think, even for a second, that the odds are not in your favor p>
Amelie looked over at Noah, watching him. The fear didn’t vanish entirely, but it shifted, hardening into a quiet resolve. Gabriel was right. She wasn’t that helpless girl in the woods anymore. She was a mother, a partner to a Prince, and the host of a powerful wolf.
“I hear you, Gabriel,” she whispered, her grip on the phone tightening. “I won’t let him win by living in fear p>
“Good,” Gabriel replied, the tension in his own voice easing slightly at her response. “I’ll be back at the palace soon. Stay with the my mother until I arrive p>
“Hmm. Make sure you don’t hurt yourself. And… And tell Flora, I trust her,” Amelie whispered.
Gabriel chuckled. “Alex even if resurrected from the dark magic can’t defeat me. And I’ll pass your message to Flora. Your parents will be here soon, so the situation is under control p>
“I understand. Thank you, Gabriel p>
“Don’t say that,” Gabriel whispered. “I love you.” With that, he hung up the call, bringing a peace to Amelie’s heart.