<h4>Chapter 586: Turn into a cage</h4>


    Amelie looked at the clock, highlighting Gabriel’s prolonged absence. He hadn’t returned to the room since his meeting with the Beta. She gazed down at Noah, who was contentedly drinking from his bottle which she had held.


    ’Gabriel is under so much stress,’ she thought, her heart aching for him. ’He never anticipated Kate would be attacked. Now he’s nning everything in the shadows, trying to carry the weight of everything and our safety alone. He thinks excluding me keeps me safe, but the not knowing is its own kind of hurt.’


    Unable to settle her mind, she brought her hands together in prayer after making Noah hold the bottle and shut her eyes tightly, seeking sce in the only power higher than a King.


    <i>’Please, Moon Goddess, keep everyone safe here. We are all innocent. Shouldn’t the wicked be punished instead? Why are you putting us through so many trials? Please, protect Gabriel at all costs. Don’t let his fear turn into a cage.’</i>


    She slowly opened her eyes. Noah had almost finished his bottle. She gently pulled it away, catching a stray drop of milk with a soft wipe before caressing his tuft of hair.


    "Don’t you want to sleep today? Hm?" she murmured.


    As if Noah understood her perfectly, he shook his head with surprising vigor and began letting out a series of spirited, babbling sounds.


    Amelie cradled Noah against her shoulder. She paced the room with a rhythmic sway, hoping the gentle movement would lull him into the sleep he was so clearly fighting. When the walls of the chamber began to feel too restrictive, she stepped out into the quiet drawing room.


    "Ma," Noah whispered, his tiny fingers tangling in the delicate gold chain around her neck.


    "Hmm?" Amelie slowed her pace, tilting her head down to press a soft kiss to his forehead. "Are you worried for your daddy too? Do you feel it, little one?"


    "Da?" Noah’s eyes widened, and he suddenly twisted in her arms, his gaze fixed on the heavy oak doors at the end of the corridor. He began to reach out, his small hand grasping at the air as he made urgent, demanding sounds. He wanted Gabriel.


    Amelie tried to soothe him, but the babbling quickly turned into frustrated, muffled cries. His little face scrunched up, and the more she tried to hush him, the louder his distress became. It wasn’t just a tantrum.


    "Okay. We are going out, baby," Amelie murmured, trying to keep her voice steady as Noah’s cries began to escte.


    Her attendant, Ashna, appeared almost instantly, looking slightly out of breath. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I was a little busy with the work," she said, hurrying toward them.


    "It’s alright, Ashna. Bring Noah’s warm cap from the room. He wants to step out," Amelie instructed. Ashna was efficient, returning in seconds with a thick, wool-lined cap. She carefully fixed it on Noah’s head, tying a soft knot under his chin to protect him from the chill outside.


    As they stepped out of the chamber’s wing and into a more open corridor, a cold gush of air hit their faces. Amelie shivered, pulling Noah closer to her chest. "Why is this sudden cold air?"


    "The snow has already fallen in the hilly areas surrounding the pce. Maybe that’s why the draft is so biting as the evening is approaching," Ashna answered. She looked at Amelie’s weary face with concern. "Your Highness, I can carry Noah if you want. You must be tired after such a long day."


    "Not at all. Besides, he would only cry harder if I passed him to you while he’s this distressed," Amelie stated, her eyes searching the shadows of the hallway. "He’s looking for Gabriel."


    "The princes usually gather at themon hall to discuss matters sometimes," Ashna opined. "I can lead your way there if you wish to see him."


    "Sure," Amelie agreed, her heart hammering against her ribs. She didn’t just want to find Gabriel for Noah’s sake; she needed to see him herself.


    ~~~~~


    "Gabriel, we aren’t letting you fight alone. We are your brothers! Can’t you see we are worried for you?" Dominick’s voice boomed, demanding an exnation that could finally dissolve the wall Gabriel had built around himself.


    "Do you want to end up like Kate then?" Gabriel roared back, his Alpha aura ring with a dangerous, jagged intensity. "You saw what Ophelia is capable of. I will not be the reason another sibling of mine gets hurt!"


    "And what about you? You’ve involved a few of your people, those like Carlos and Karmen whom you trust. Do you not have a shred of trust left for us?" Dominick retorted, stepping into Gabriel’s personal space. "Kate is our sister too. As much as you are hurting, as angry as you are, we both share that fire. Don’t you dare exclude us from this fight."


    Casaio stood a few feet back, watching the his two Alpha brothers sh. He let out a long, weary sigh. "Calm down. Both of you!" hemanded like the eldest brother should.


    "While I’ll be hunting Ophelia, you two need to be in the pce for our parents safety and of course, Kate’s safety," Gabriel said in a bit calmer tone.


    "Ophelia isn’t afraid of using any means to hurt me and the people around me. That’s why I can’t involve any of you. I don’t either want Karmen, Carlos or others to be in my ns. I am done with sacrifices the people have lost not only in the past but in the current time too," he asserted, ncing between his both elder brothers.


    His pupils dted as he felt Amelie’s and Noah’s presence nearby. "I need to go," he stated and turned on his heels to leave.


    "Gabriel, battles that are fought with togetherness are always a win," Dominick stated. "Maybe you need to think about it again. We are a family. And we should fight together against such odds."


    Gabriel didn’t say anything and walked out of themon hall.