Ewan finally stepped out from behind the tree, his injured arm hanging limply by his side. The mont he did, Karn and Jarrell lunged forward, restraining him. He gritted his teeth as they forced him to his knees on the damp forest ground.
With a sharp click, Jarrell secured silver cuffs around Ewan’s wrists. A hiss of pain escaped his lips as the silver burned into his skin, sapping the strength from his body. His wolf growled in protest, but there was nothing he could do.
Gabriel let out a low chuckle, his violet eyes gleaming with amusent. "I expected better from a hybrid like you, Ewan. How disappointing." He stepped closer, tilting his head. "Take him to the prison and inform the King that Ewan has been captured."
"Wait!" Ewan rasped in his uneven breath. "Help save my mate."
Gabriel’s expression remained neutral. "Take him away."
"Don’t do this, Gabriel!" Ewan’s voice cracked with desperation this ti. "You, of all people, should understand. Don’t you long for a mate?" He struggled against the cuffs, his eyes glistening with tears. "Please... just this once. My mate... she’s gravely injured. There’s an herb in this forest that can save her. I managed to collect it, it’s in my pocket. Just... take it to her."
Gabriel remained unmoved. "You expect to believe you? The sa way you deceived those fools in the North two years ago?"
"This isn’t a lie!" Ewan shouted. "I swear on my life! Hand over to the King if you must, but don’t let my mate die. Please, Prince Gabriel!"
Gabriel’s eyes flickered, but his resolve did not waver. "Take this trickster away."
Without hesitation, Karn and Jarrell tightened their grip and began dragging Ewan toward the waiting vehicle. His pleas echoed through the trees, but Gabriel didn’t get affected.
~~~~
Alie set the stack of files neatly on Gabriel’s desk, expecting to find him buried in work. But the office was empty. Her brows knitted together as she glanced around.
"Did he already leave?" she murmured.
Her gaze flickered to the clock on the wall. It was already afternoon. Realizing she had little ti left before her scheduled lunch with the team of secretaries.
Without further delay, she turned on her heels and left the office.
Picking up her phone from the desk, Alie stepped out, joining a small group of executive secretaries.
Upon arrival in the restaurant, she noticed that many of the others were already seated, engaged in conversation. She offered a polite nod before taking her place at the table.
Reaching for the glass of water in front of her, she took a few small sips. Just as she set the glass down, a voice from across the table caught her attention.
"Alie, tell us how did you manage to beco Chairman Gabriel’s secretary?"
"Oh, I’m curious too," another chid in, leaning forward with interest.
"I heard she received so special favor because she’s also special to the prince," a third voice added with a sly smirk.
Alie’s fingers curled tightly together in her lap. A flicker of unease passed through her, but she quickly pushed it down. ’What am I even afraid of?’
Taking a steady breath, she t their expectant gazes. "Prince Gabriel saved my life," she answered evenly. "I was being chased by so wolves when I encountered him. He stepped in and saved ."
She left it at that, omitting the part where she had pleaded for him to ’sleep with her’, which was a desperate act she wasn’t ready to explain. And above all, she kept hidden the secret that she was pregnant.
"Oh? That’s strange. We’ve heard that Prince Gabriel rarely helps anyone," the man seated on the far right remarked with curiosity.
"Maybe Alie was just lucky," the woman beside him suggested, casting her a knowing glance.
"Yes," Alie replied with a polite smile, though her fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of the table. "I suppose I was."
"But why were wolves chasing you?" another voice chid in. "What about your pack?"
Alie felt her chest tighten.
"Huh?" she blinked, her mind scrambling for a response.
Before the silence could stretch too long, another colleague interjected, sensing the shift in mood. "I think we should start lunch. We can’t be late for our duties."
’How long am I supposed to lie to all these people?’ Alie thought. She picked up the fork and knife, lowering her eyes on the plate before her.
Luckily, the lunch went smoothly and none of them asked Alie any more questions from her. The bill was paid by the company’s card and they returned to the company.
Alie stood before the mirror in the washroom as she felt herself trembling. What would happen if those people find out the truth? More than anyone, it would affect Gabriel’s image too. She washed her face before wiping it with the small handkerchief in her pocket.
Alie let out a deep sigh before stepping into her office, only to find Gabriel standing near her desk.
"Sir?" she called out, slightly surprised by his presence.
Gabriel turned to face her, his sharp gaze scanning her expression. "Did soone hurt you?"
"What?" She blinked, caught off guard by his question. "No."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "I heard so rumors circulating in the office. I wondered if anyone troubled you during lunch."
Alie’s fingers curled slightly at her sides, but she quickly composed herself. "No, sir. It was just casual conversation and lunch," she assured him.
Gabriel remained silent for a mont, studying her intently.
She cleared her throat and shifted the subject. "I left so files on your desk earlier. Please review and sign them at your convenience."
"I’ve already done that," Gabriel replied.
Alie nodded, ready to return to her tasks, but his next question made her pause.
"The pendant I gave you, are you still wearing it?"
Her hand instinctively went to the small piece of jewelry resting against her collarbone. "Yes. It’s around my neck," she confird.
"Good," he murmured. "Keep it on at all tis."
Alie humd and wondered why he said that.
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