I gasped!

That just didn’t make sense to me. I understand denying the fact that I’m carrying your child but wanting me dead just because you think I lied or because you don’t want anyone finding out the truth was on a whole different level.

I couldn’t hide the fact that I felt betrayed.

“I’ll be back” Gabriel left hurriedly as soon as he heard footsteps approaching.

Tears filled my eyes and in no time I was sobbing like a child who lost her parents—I did lose my parents a long time ago but I found confidant in Alpha Ethan; but now, I lost the only person I believed and thought would be the one to stand beside me against enemies

But guess who the enemy is now!

“This isn’t the time to be crying”

“What? Is that all you have to say as someone who put me in this situation?” The last person I wanted to hear from was my wolf

“And who didn’t take my advice when I told her to flee?”

“And who tried to flee knowing very well she wouldn’t make it to the gate in time?” I shot at her

“I didn’t know, I’m just a wolf and not a fortune teller. Let’s think of a way to get out of here instead of fighting over spilled milk”

I hate to admit but she was right! If we keep on arguing, we’d just end up getting ourselves killed

“So what do you suggest?-”

“I’m back” Gabriel whispered fumbling with a bunch of keys in his hands.

“How did—“

“Shhh” he hushed me as he opened the lock quietly.

To my surprise, he walked towards me and wrapped his arms warmly around me, “I was really scared for you” his voice was shaky

I didn’t know what to do or what to say; I think I deserved to hug him back so I just stood there, between his arms.

“Gabriel…” I tried to find words— I had to say something

I had to apologize

“You don’t have to say anything” he let go of me and gave me a smile, the kind that didn’t get to his cheeks.

Gabriel had once confessed his love for me but I was blinded by my unrequited love for Alpha Ethan. I was such a fool to think that Ethan would love someone as lowly as me. For a moment, I thought it was the Almighty coming to my rescue! But here I was, being saved from someone I once loved by someone I had once rejected.

What a life!

“Can you walk?” He asked looking at my legs which were covered in dust

“I- I- I can manage” I wasn’t so sure, I just wanted to get out of here—I had no choice

“Hmm” he said placing his hands around my waist… I was fighting so hard for my life and my stupid heart was beating so fast as I felt his hands go around my waist.

Stupid heart. It had no right to beat this way after all the times I rejected him.

“Place your hands around my shoulders”

I hesitated for a while but declined “Don’t worry, I can walk alone”

Moving his hands up to my back and without uttering a word, he lifted me off the floor.

“Gabriel!” I let out a muffled scream

“I know you feel awkward around me but I won’t let that get us killed” he threw me slightly into the air to balance my weight on his hands.

“Here we go” I could hear a sense of fear in his voice. Holding me in his arms, he walked out quietly.

The hallway was dark and quiet; perfect timing!

“No guards?” I whispered to Gabriel

“They all went for a meeting” he whispered back doubling his steps

If they all went for a meeting, they’d definitely notice his absence.

Now the guilt I had earlier felt doubled—he was risking his life just to save me.

Despite not paying attention to me, “you don’t have to worry, they believe I’m out of town” he noticed my drifted mood.

Soon, we were out of the prison. “You can manage now” he said slowly dropping me

“Yeah, thanks” I said shyly

“This way” Gabriel said pulling me gently.

The prison was quite distant from the mansion and the maids quarters but it was close to the fence—a good thing I guess

“This is our only option” Gabriel said standing before the not-too-tall wall

“It’s not like I have a choice” I murmured

Gabriel bent over and I just stood watching him “Get on” he gestured towards his shoulders

No way he was letting me leave on my own!

Where would I go? Who would I go to?

“We don’t have time to waste, or do you want to get us killed?” Hearing the word killed got me on my toes and without hesitation, I got on his shoulders “How will you climb over?” I needed to know if this was going to be the last time I’d see him

“You’ll see” he chuckled for the first time since he came to my rescue.

Over the walls were more quiet than the hallway of the prison. I stood there waiting and hoping Gabriel wouldn’t change his mind by letting me go alone. My legs were already weak, I had almost zero strength left in me so I resorted to sitting by the wall. Suddenly, I heard the rustling of leaves, it was Gabriel.

“I’m sorry I kept you waiting, I had to make sure we were not being trailed” he held out his hands

“Thank you“ I said with relief gently placing my hands on his and he pulled me up.

I gasped as I collided with his muscular chest and immediately, I attempted to move away from him but he gently pressed my head back on his chest and caressed my cheeks softly

“Just a second” he whispered. I could hear his heart beating rapidly as I rested on it. If only he knew mine was beating twice as fast as his.

After few minutes, he gently pulled me away and cupped my chin in his palm and slowly raised my face; now, I was staring in his eyes.

His grey eyes seemed quite teary “I won’t let anything happen to you” his eyes were filled with determination.

I was speechless so I just shook my head and gave him a faint smile.

Gabriel was indeed a good guy. A sense of regret gripped me; if only I had accepted Gabriel’s proposal, I wouldn’t be in this mess—I wouldn’t have involved him in this mess.

Yes, I didn’t love him but if I had given him a chance, I’m sure I’d have grown to love him.

“We have to keep going” he said taking my hands

“Where are we going?” I asked, I wasn’t sure if he knew anyone outside the wall of the alpha reign pack’s mansion

“My house” he said leading the way. For over 20 mins, he never turned to look look at me, he just walked briskly while pulling me along.

I had a lot of questions to ask him but it didn’t seem like he was in the position to take any question; we were certainly not!

We avoided the streets and took only bush paths as we made our way to the outskirts of the town. After about an hour of walking without rest, we got to a stop at a house which was enclosed in a small compound.

Gabriel pushed open the gate and I followed suit, I was already exhausted and dehydrated but a feeling of excitement crept into me as we walked towards the house. Finally, a place to rest.

Gabriel brought out a key from his pocket and inserted it into the keyhole.

“Welcome to my house” he said going in before me and holding the door. When I was fully in, he shut the door behind me

“Thank you”

His house wasn’t big but it looked really comfortable. And if it wasn’t, I didn’t have a choice.

“Your house?” I said in disbelief. I didn’t expect him to own a house. It was quite rare for guards to have their own house. Most of them saw it as a waste because they wouldn’t spend much time at their houses except they have families

“Family?” I thought out loud turning abruptly to Gabriel

“What?” he was shocked by my question

“I- I mean” I swallowed hard “Are you married?”

He laughed hard placing his hands on his stomach “why would you think that?”

“Just a thought, hmm” I said going over to the brown couch

“That’s a crazy thought” he chuckled “Well, I’m not” he winked at me. It was then I realized I had been smiling shyly at him, so I turned away.

“Make yourself comfortable,” he said, his voice calm yet commanding, as he disappeared deeper into the house.

Minutes later, Gabriel returned, carrying a bowl of food and a bottle of water. The casual ease with which he set a small table before me made it almost feel like he had been waiting for this moment—like he already knew what I needed.

“Here.” His eyes lingered on me as he placed the meal down.

“Thank you,” I murmured, snatching the water first. I drained it in desperate gulps, and his amused chuckle followed.

“Oh, it must have been the long walk,” he teased, disappearing again to fetch another bottle.

I busied myself with the food, chewing slowly, deliberately avoiding his gaze. Still, I could feel it—heavy, unrelenting, burning into me with a kind of curiosity I didn’t want to acknowledge.

Someone’s falling for a man, my wolf sang in the back of my mind, her voice sly and insistent.

Hush, I whispered inwardly, though I knew she wouldn’t listen. So I ignored her. Or at least, I tried to.

“Care for more?” Gabriel asked when I’d finally pushed the plate away.

I shook my head, exhaustion weighing on me more than hunger. With a sigh, I shifted, pushing the table aside so I could curl up on the couch. It was surprisingly comfortable—wide enough for me to tuck my legs beneath me.

When Gabriel returned again, it wasn’t with food or water, but a folded cloth. He leaned in, so close I could smell him—warm, faintly woodsy, grounding. Gently, he lifted my head and slipped the cloth beneath it.

“It’ll make you more comfortable,” he murmured, clearing his throat as though the intimacy of the act unsettled him. He retreated quickly, sitting across from me on the edge of the table.

I closed my eyes, but couldn’t sleep. His stare was relentless, the silence between us tightening like a rope around my chest. My wolf purred at the attention. I, however, felt suffocated.

“Lila—”

“Gabriel—”

We spoke at once, the tension cracking slightly.

“Go on,” he urged, though his voice carried a restless eagerness, like whatever he wanted to say had been clawing at him.

“No, you first,” I offered, my voice softer than I intended. Anything to break the silence. Anything to push away the way his stare left me unsettled.

He leaned forward, eyes dark, expression unreadable. “What plan do you have for your unborn child?”

My chest constricted. The air felt heavier, suffocating.

I forced my gaze away, my voice sharp but unsteady as the words cut free.

“Get rid of it.”