Chapter 316
“Gabriel, you don’t need to massage my feet,” Amelie murmured softly. “If I rest for a while, the pain will disappear p>
“Stay still, Ame,” Gabriel countered gently. “You know very well, even if you beg me to stop, I won’t.” His fingers traced lightly along her toes before cradling her foot in his large hand. “They look swollen to me p>
“They’re not,” she protested with a small pout. “I’ve just… gained weight.” Her hands instinctively cupped her rounded belly, as though protecting it.
And then, suddenly, she froze.
“Gabriel!” Amelie gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief, her heartbeat quickening as though it might burst. Tears welled unbidden in her eyes.
Alarmed, Gabriel’s hands tightened around her foot. “What is it? What’s wrong p>
Amelie blinked rapidly, her voice quivering with wonder. “Noa… our little Noa… he kicked me p>
For a moment, Gabriel went utterly still, stunned into silence. His violet eyes widened as he leaned closer, as though he could hear or feel what she had just felt. “What?” he whispered, his heart already beating faster.
“Yes, Noa kicked me,” Amelie said, feeling it again.
Gabriel was quick to move to her side and lowered himself to his knees. He pressed his ear on her belly, wanting to feel it too. Amelie’s hand moved to his hair, hoping to feel that kick once more.
The wait ended as Gabriel finally felt it. The soft kick, the movement of their pup, it stunned him. The movement was so small, yet it carried the weight of everything, life, love, and their future bound together. His lips curved into a smile as his eyes lifted to hers, glowing with wonder.
“Our pup,” he whispered. “Amelie… he’s really here p>
Amelie’s tears spilled freely as she cupped his face, their joy colliding in a moment too sacred for words. He was sitting now, his face inching close to her. The moment was purely blissful for them, and he couldn’t help but shower kisses on Amelie’s face, who laughed with joy. Her laughter was mixed with the tears of happiness.
When he stopped, Amelie captured his lips for a long kiss. He didn’t deprive her of it, thus responding to her quietly. His hand instinctively moved to her rounded belly as their wolves connected. Valko and Selene were overjoyed with the same feeling.
Amelie’s hand rested over Gabriel’s, but she didn’t break the kiss. Her tears damped his cheeks, but he didn’t care. All he wanted was to devour the joyous moment.
Feeling breathless, they both pulled away, their foreheads touching now. “See, now, Noa is showing his excitement about coming to this world. These two months shall pass soon, then we will have him in our arms. He will be calling us Mommy and Daddy. A lot of good things are awaiting us, Amelie p>
His words soothed her and at the same time, fluttered her heart with an unknown feeling.
“Oh my God! Noa kicked again,” Amelie said.
“Yes, I felt it too,” Gabriel admitted, his smile not fading even for a second.
“Gabriel, you made it happen for me, for us,” Amelie said. “I-I don’t have enough words to thank you. The memory of being chased to death is still fresh in my mind. If it weren’t you, then, I have no idea what would have happened to us,” she murmured.
“We were bound to meet that night. We were fated to be each other’s,” Gabriel pronounced. His thumbs gently brushed the tears from under her eyes. “You’ve made so far and you’ll keep going forward p>
Amelie hugged him, her head resting on his shoulder. Today was another beautiful day for her, which she would never forget.
Flora stared down at the table where she sat alone, the emptiness around her louder than any words. Not a single colleague dared to join her; the rumors had already spread like wildfire, and she could feel the weight of their glances pressing down on her from every corner of the cafeteria.
Her fingers tightened around the spoon, knuckles pale, as she fixed her eyes on the untouched plate. The passing remarks made it harder to muster the courage to take even a single bite. Those words were hurting her deeply and making her feel she didn’t belong to this place either.
“Flora p>
The familiar voice snapped her from her thoughts. Startled, she lifted her head and nearly dropped the spoon.
“Your Highness!” she gasped, eyes wide.
Katelyn only rolled her eyes and slid into the seat across from her, her presence commanding attention without effort. “Come on, Flora. We’re not in the palace right now,” she said in a low, casual murmur.
Flora blinked, still too stunned to react.
“You haven’t even started eating,” Katelyn noted, glancing at her plate. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold p>
For a moment, Flora could only stare, her chest tightening with surprise. She had braced herself for more coldness, for distance… but instead, Katelyn’s tone was almost gentle. The change unsettled her as much as it warmed her, leaving her to wonder what had brought it about.
“People have already found out about you,” Katelyn said, her voice barely rising above the clinking of cutlery around them. Her eyes didn’t leave Flora’s face. “How are you planning to cope with it p>
Flora lowered her gaze back to the plate, her fingers tightening around the spoon. “All I can do is stay quiet,” she whispered with resignation.
Katelyn leaned back slightly as if she had expected that answer. “Silence won’t save you,” she replied. “They’ll keep talking, trying to humiliate you to the extent that you’ll quit. And the more you bottle it all up, the more it will fester inside you p>
Flora’s throat tightened; she didn’t dare look up.
Katelyn’s voice softened. “If you let it pile up too much, one day you might choose the darker path over the right one. Hatred grows quietly, Flora, and it can consume you before you even realize it p>
“It won’t happen,” Flora said with a determined tone.