Alie filled the jar with water and sealed it with a lid. As she turned to leave the kitchen, her gaze landed on the Queen. She imdiately stopped and bowed respectfully.
"We have palace servants for a reason," Queen Mabel said. "I’d like to speak with you."
Alie’s grip on the jar tightened slightly, but she nodded and followed the Queen in silence. They walked into a private room, one Alie had never entered before. Her eyes wandered across the space, settling on the frad photographs on the wall: the Queen with her children, including a much younger Gabriel. A soft smile tugged at Alie’s lips at the sight.
"Take a seat," Mabel gestured toward one of the upholstered chairs.
Alie placed the water jar on the table and sat down across from the Queen, folding her hands neatly in her lap. A hint of anxiety stirred within her. Was this a reprimand for everything that had happened to Gabriel?
"How is Gabriel?" Mabel asked.
"He’s much better, Your Majesty. The healers visited earlier. They gave him a pill to help his body recover, and he fell asleep soon after taking it," Alie explained, her tone gentle.
"Hmm. Gabriel has never been this weak before," Mabel murmured, her expression thoughtful. Then, she looked Alie in the eye. "But I don’t bla you for it."
Alie was stunned to hear her. A heavy burden she hadn’t realized she was carrying seed to lift all at once.
"This morning, Karn shared sothing rather interesting," Mabel continued, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"What was it, Your Majesty?" Alie asked curiously.
"Your pup," Mabel said, "has apparently co to see Gabriel as his father from the very beginning. Gabriel has ntioned this to more than once, but I dismissed it until now. It seems... the pup may be his redy."
Alie’s hand instinctively moved to her bump, her palm resting protectively over where Noa stirred beneath her skin. Warmth flooded through her at the Queen’s words.
"Is that really true, Your Majesty? I don’t understand how their bond ford so suddenly. It’s still a mystery to ."
"Karn said the pup was the only one who stopped Gabriel from losing his sanity the night Alex tried to assassinate your family," Mabel replied. Her gaze turned introspective. "It would’ve been a beautiful thing if the pup were yours and Gabriel’s by blood... but I won’t complain. Nothing happens outside the will of the Moon Goddess. If she chose to bring the two of you together this way, then there must be a reason, one we may not yet see."
Alie nodded quietly, her eyes steady on the Queen. "Your Majesty, why don’t you begin showing your love to Gabriel more openly? You’ve held back for so long... because of the prophecy. But since Gabriel beca part of my life, I’ve started to see things with more hope and positivity. Whatever mistakes or pain lie in our past, that burden belongs to Gabriel and . We’ll bear it together and we’ll fight through it."
Mabel fell silent. Her expression softened, but she gave nothing away. The silence stretched long enough to stir a dozen questions in Alie’s heart, yet she chose not to press further. Instead, she lowered her gaze in quiet respect.
"You call your pup Noa," Mabel said after a mont, her voice gentler. "Have you thought of nas for when they’re born?"
Alie smiled, a subtle warmth blooming in her chest. "Gabriel and I haven’t decided yet. We thought we’d wait until Noa is born... and then choose a na after discussing with everyone."
Mabel humd and rose to her feet. She went to the nearest cupboard and took out a thick photo album. She returned to her place and rested it on the table. "I’ll show you how Gabriel looked as a child," she said, smiling.
~~~~~~
Casaio stood at the threshold of the door, watching Zilia sleep. He had confessed once again to Zilia that he couldn’t survive with her. He wanted only her in his life as his mate.
’You’ve already made a ss of everything,’ ca the low growl of his wolf in the back of his mind.
Casaio’s jaw clenched. ’Not now, Kaen,’ he muttered internally.
’Even I can’t understand you anymore,’ Kaen said with a frustrated sound. ’Spy or not, she was our mate. We should’ve protected her.’
’You wanted to reject her, too,’ Casaio snapped back.
’I was furious. I thought everything between us was a lie,’ Kaen replied. ’But the bond... the feelings, they were real.’
Casaio closed his eyes briefly, guilt and pain washing over him as Kaen had turned quiet.
The phone in his pocket buzzed, and he took it out before heading to the living room, not wanting to disturb Zilia’s sleep.
"Yes, Estelle?" Casaio asked.
"Your little beta is in my captive, Casaio," ca a deep voice from the other side.
"Luke Hunter?" Casaio muttered in a tone of disbelief.
A dark chuckle echoed from the other end. "Interesting. You recognized instantly."
Casaio’s jaw clenched.
"Hand over Zilia and Idris if you want your beta to live," Luke continued. "Or I’ll send the body of this lovely lady in a beautiful coffin straight to the palace gates. You have three hours."
Casaio’s heart raced in fear.
"Zilia knows the way to the Blood Dominion. She’ll guide you. And one more thing..." The voice dropped into a vicious murmur. "Tell Gabriel to stay out of this. If he tries making a move, I might just kill his mate... and the pup."
"Wait!" Casaio’s voice rang out, but the call had already disconnected.
He imdiately redialed, only to find that the number was out of reach.
"Fuck!" Casaio growled, throwing the phone onto the nearby couch. His heart pounded in his chest, a deadly storm rising inside him.
He rubbed his fingers on his forehead. He couldn’t let anything happen to Estelle, but he couldn’t just hand over Zilia and Idris to that bastard. For the first ti, Casaio felt helpless.
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