Alie pressed the key card against the suite door, and it clicked open with a soft sound. She turned to Gabriel with a warm, affectionate gaze before stepping inside.
Soft lighting bathed the spacious suite, revealing the romantic touches scattered throughout the room. The fresh red roses enhance the ambiance.
Her eyes wandered to the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, their glass panes concealed by thick, velvety curtains.
"Freshen up. I’ll call room service for dinner," Gabriel said, already making his way to the landline phone.
Alie gave a nod and disappeared into the washroom. Gabriel placed the order for a full-course dinner, then hung up the receiver. He casually unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt sleeves, rolling them up to his forearms.
Just as he was about to settle onto the couch, the doorbell chid. He walked over and opened the door to find a hotel server bowing slightly, pushing in a silver trolley loaded with covered dishes. After arranging the dishes on the dining table, the server offered another polite bow and exited.
By the ti Gabriel turned around, Alie had returned, gently dabbing her face with a towel. Her hair was damp, and her cheeks glowed softly.
"Wow! That was fast! Everything slls amazing," she said, cheerfully tossing the towel onto the couch before taking a seat at the table. "Let’s dig in!"
"I need to make a quick call. Go ahead and start without ," Gabriel replied, offering a brief smile before stepping out onto the balcony.
He pulled out his phone and noticed several unread ssages from Casaio. His brows slightly furrowed as he tapped on the call icon and brought the phone to his ear.
"I was wondering when you’d call," Casaio answered almost imdiately.
"I was on the flight. My phone was off," Gabriel responded.
"Yeah, I figured. Listen, we caught the guy, but he’s not talking," Casaio said. "He’s tough. Turns out he’s an Alpha, which explains his high pain threshold. He’s resisting the interrogation, so it’s going to take so ti to get a na or any useful information out of him."
Gabriel was silent for a mont, processing the update. Then he nodded, even though his brother couldn’t see it.
"Alright. Thanks for letting know. Keep posted," he said.
"Will do. And Gabriel, stay alert. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet," Casaio warned before ending the call.
Gabriel lowered the phone, his gaze drifting out to the city lights. He went back into the room and saw Alie hadn’t touched the food.
"It’s good you wrapped up the call early, or the food might’ve gone cold," Alie said with a smile, ladling the hearty at and vegetable soup into two bowls.
Gabriel took a seat across from her and reached for the wine bottle. As he uncorked it and began pouring himself a glass, Alie’s eyes followed him.
"I want so too," she said casually.
Gabriel paused mid-pour and looked at her. "No. You’re not drinking."
"Why not? You smoke too, but I never tell you to stop," she muttered, clearly displeased.
Gabriel lifted his gaze from the wine with a serious expression. "That was the last ti I smoked. Since I found out you’re pregnant, I’ve been more careful with everything," he said.
"But red wine isn’t harmful in small quantities," Alie reasoned. "Just a little. A sip."
Gabriel sighed but relented. "Fine." He poured a modest amount into her glass.
"To us," Alie said, raising her glass with a soft smile.
Gabriel clinked his glass gently against hers, his eyes never leaving her face. They took a sip, savoring the warmth of the wine before setting the glasses down.
Alie began tasting the soup while Gabriel carefully sliced the steaks, placing a portion onto each of their plates.
"I’ve been aning to ask you sothing since our wedding day," Gabriel said, his tone shifting.
Alie looked up, curious. "What is it?"
He placed the plate before her and sat down again, eting her gaze. "What did my mother say to you before the ceremony? You delayed coming into the hall, and I’ve wondered about it ever since. Please, tell honestly."
Alie hesitated, her fingers absentmindedly fidgeting with each other.
"I chose you, Gabriel," she said gently. "I can’t tell you exactly what she said. Not because I want to keep it from you, but because it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I followed my heart. And it told to stand by your side and complete our bond."
Gabriel’s heart pounded against his ribs, and he couldn’t feel happier.
"I don’t want to speak ill of my mother-in-law behind her back," Alie added, her eyes dropping to her plate. "Whatever she says to , I can take it. I understand her fears, as a mother."
She picked up her fork and began eating without looking back at him.
Gabriel remained still, sipping more wine as his gaze lingered on her. His heart fluttered with admiration for her strength, her grace, and the love she gave so easily.
"I don’t understand her fears. For her, I am a person who is destined to destroy things. But I am glad you chose to be truthful," Gabriel said, bringing a steak to his mouth.
"Show your wolf soday," Alie suddenly requested.
"What about tonight after dinner?" Gabriel suggested. "If you are tired, we can delay it for tomorrow," he added.
"No. I would like to see you tonight. I must see how you look in your wolf form," Alie said, her gaze reflecting a feeling that only existed between mates.
"Sure. But I’ll take you for a ride if I show myself," Gabriel opined.
"I would love to," Alie replied, smiling. Then, a mont later, her smile faltered. "I hoped I had a wolf, too. It would be fun then," she muttered.
"Who knows my love awakens your wolf soday," Gabriel remarked.
Alie smiled. "I still cannot believe that I’ve found happiness in such a short ti. I an... I found you, who loves . That feels like a dream." Her eyes turned moist as she turned a bit emotional.
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