Rejected and Pregnant: Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince

Early in the morning, the gentle chorus of birds outside the balcony stirred Amelie from sleep. She blinked slowly, adjusting to the soft light, and realized Gabriel's head rested on the same pillow as hers.

Last night, she had waited for him until exhaustion claimed her. Now, her fingers brushed lightly across his cheek. Her touch was careful as if afraid to disturb him.

'How much are you doing for us?' she thought. 'I still feel like I'm only a burden… leaving everything for you to bear. I want to protect you too, the way you protect me. I just wonder when that day will come.'

Leaning closer, she pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, lingering there for a second before pulling back to study his face. Even in sleep, his presence radiated warmth and protection.

Quietly, she shifted, propping herself on her elbows before easing her feet to the floor. One hand rested instinctively on her rounded belly as she rose and made her way toward the washroom.

But before she could take another step, a familiar hand closed gently around her arm.

"Walking has become difficult for you. Don't you think?" Gabriel's voice was soft, still edged with the gravel of sleep, as he moved to guide her toward the washroom.

She turned to him in surprise, eyes wide. "You should be sleeping. Why are you awake? I was being careful not to wake you."

"I think we should move to one of the rooms downstairs," Gabriel said, sidestepping her question. "I'll ask Albus to prepare a big one for us today."

"You didn't answer me," Amelie replied as she reached the washbasin.

"I'll sleep during the day," Gabriel assured her. Then his gaze softened. "I'll get the bathtub ready for you. Do you want me to bathe you today?"

A playful spark lit her eyes. "We can bathe together later. How about that?" She slipped her arms around him, drawing him closer.

His lips curved into a slow smirk. "Sounds like a good idea."

~~~~

Gabriel and Amelie were enjoying a quiet stroll through the garden, which carried the faint scent of blooming roses, when Albus approached, a phone in his hand.

"Your Majesty has called," the old steward announced, offering the device with a respectful bow.

Gabriel's eyes shifted to the extended phone before he took it from Albus. "Amelie, why don't you have a seat for a while?" he suggested gently.

"I'll walk with Uncle Albus," Amelie replied, giving the old man a warm glance.

Gabriel's gaze lingered on her for a moment. He trusted her completely in Albus's care, at least until he finished speaking with his father.

"Good morning, Dad," Gabriel greeted, his gaze still following Amelie as she strolled beside Albus, their figures moving farther down the garden path.

"Good morning, son," Raidan replied. "A few matters came up yesterday, so I was out dealing with them. Why did you call? Is everything alright?"

"Yes. So far, everything's fine," Gabriel answered. Then, with curiosity, he asked, "Is the light punishment you gave Mom over?"

"Your mother isn't in a good state," Raidan said, his tone heavy with concern. "Did you speak to her last night? I noticed her eyes were swollen this morning. She kept asking me to let her go."

Gabriel's jaw tightened slightly. "Now she's regretting what she did to me."

"Of course," Raidan admitted.

"So, what should I do?" Gabriel's voice carried a bite of sarcasm. "Start empathizing with her? Try to understand her point of view?" He shook his head. "Dad, you could have stopped it. And if I start pointing fingers, the list will go on and on with their names, their actions, and betrayals. So let's just stop talking about my mother."

Raidan fell silent, the weight of his son's frustration settling between them.

After a pause, he asked, "Then why did you call me?"

"I wanted to ask Mom something," Gabriel admitted. "But I don't need her help anymore. She'll only feed me another lie and sabotage my plans."

Amelie turned her head toward him, only to be met with a shadowed, almost menacing expression etched across his face.

Beside her, Albus followed her gaze, his brow furrowing slightly as he seemed to understand what had caught her attention.

"These days, you both are carrying a heavy weight on your shoulders," Albus said softly. "Prince Gabriel has been cutting short his sleep just to keep everything under control. I only hope… this storm passes soon."

Amelie's voice faltered, and she lowered her gaze. "All I've done is bring him trouble."

"That's not true," Albus said firmly.

"If there are troubles, then there is love as well," Albus said gently. "You've become family to Prince Gabriel. I've seen his earlier years… On the surface, he appeared happy, but inside, he was dying a little each day from the loneliness. He was longing for a mate like the others had by their side."

He hesitated, then continued, his voice turning low. "I shouldn't bring this up, but even the women Prince Gabriel dated in the past… every one of them cared more for the title of Princess than for the man himself. Not a single one wanted to truly know who Gabriel was beneath the title of a third Alpha Prince."

Albus took a brief pause before continuing, "You two were destined for each other. That's why your presence brings him peace… and why he can finally breathe when you're near."

Amelie smiled to hear those words. She saw Gabriel had ended the call while barely restraining his anger.

Gabriel closed the distance between them and handed the phone back to Albus. With a respectful bow, the old man turned and walked away, leaving them alone in the garden.

"Don't tell me you argued with your father," Amelie said, studying his expression.

"How do you know?" Gabriel asked.

"Your face said it all," she replied softly. "I thought you might have asked him to speak to your mother about the image."

Her gaze drifted to the bed of roses nearby, their vibrant petals standing proud among the thorns. "A rose can't be overlooked, even if it has thorns. Life is like that, Gabriel. We can't simply ignore all the people around us, even when they feel like thorns to us."