Rejected and Pregnant: Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince
Chapter 248: A mother could feel

Chapter 248: A mother could feel

Zilia glanced at the clock, then at Idris, who remained glued to the television screen.

"Idris, lunch is ready," she called out gently.

"I’m still full from breakfast," he replied without tearing his eyes away from the show.

She walked over and sat beside him on the couch. "You’ve been watching this since morning. Aren’t you tired?"

"Nope," Idris said, stretching his legs out. "I hardly ever get time to enjoy shows like this. Let me have this."

Zilia smiled softly, watching her brother. It felt good to see him this relaxed and carefree.

’Now that we’re back in the capital, it’s time to send Idris to the academy. I should start looking for a job too,’ Zilia thought. ’I wonder if Casaio will still expect me to keep pretending to be his mate. I honestly don’t want that anymore. But... what he said the day before yesterday wasn’t a lie. He’s still in love with me. I don’t want to ruin him because of my past.’

She was lost in her thoughts when Idris gently rested his head on her lap.

"Sis, I don’t know what you’re thinking," he murmured, "but I hope you’re not planning to run away again. I don’t think we should go anywhere else. This place feels safe... I like it here."

Zilia ran her fingers softly through his hair. "I’m not planning anything, don’t worry. Are you feeling sleepy?"

"Hmm," Idris yawned, setting the remote on the table before closing his eyes. "I’m just happy we’ll be living together. I don’t feel scared anymore."

Zilia smiled, continuing to stroke his hair gently, comforted by his presence and his words.

"Me too. We don’t have to live separately anymore," Zilia said, smiling.

~~~~

"Amelie, how are you feeling these days?" Skye asked gently.

"Better," Amelie replied. "But... my legs ache suddenly sometimes."

Gabriel’s expression shifted to a concerned look. "Why didn’t you tell me?" he asked.

"It’s nothing serious," she said with a small smile. "I didn’t want to bother you."

Skye offered a reassuring nod. "The reports show everything is progressing well. You both heard the pup’s heartbeat earlier. They are strong and steady. The pup is growing just fine. Amelie may start feeling the pup’s kicks soon, perhaps by the start of next month."

"That soon?" Gabriel asked, his eyes lighting up slightly.

Skye smiled. "Yes. And in some cases, omegas give birth a little earlier than expected. I mentioned earlier too that Amelie may give birth sooner than we have expected. So we’ll keep a close watch, but there’s no cause for concern at the moment."

Gabriel reached for Amelie’s hand gently, silently vowing to be more attentive.

"Anything else we need to take care of?" Gabriel asked.

"For now, nothing major," Skye replied. "Amelie, just make sure to do light exercises, short walks in the garden should be enough for now."

"I will," Amelie nodded. "Also... I’m planning to resume work from tomorrow."

Skye raised an eyebrow but kept her tone gentle. "That’s good to hear. But remember, your body is going through a lot. Don’t push yourself. I’m sure the work can wait. And honestly, I doubt Gabriel wants you overexerting right now."

Gabriel glanced at Amelie, then smiled softly. "If she wants to work, I won’t stop her. But I’ll make sure nothing heavy lands on her desk."

"As long as you’re both being sensible," Skye said with a faint smile. Then, handing the report file to Gabriel, she added, "Amelie, I’d like to speak with your mate in private for a moment, if that’s alright."

"Yes," Amelie said and stood up. Gabriel walked her to the door and made sure she was comfortably seated on the chair outside.

Closing the door behind him, he turned to Skye. "What is it?"

Skye exhaled softly. "As the delivery date approaches, Amelie might start feeling more discomfort. She mentioned sudden pain in her legs, while the reports show the pup is healthy, and everything looks fine on paper, I sensed something concerning through my healing ability. Amelie’s energy is beginning to drain more quickly than expected. Is she sleeping a lot lately? And how are her food habits?"

Gabriel’s brows furrowed. "She has been sleeping a lot more lately, but I assumed it was just part of the pregnancy. That’s common, isn’t it? As for food, she eats well, multiple times a day."

Skye nodded thoughtfully. "That explains part of it. But the increased fatigue isn’t entirely typical. I don’t think she should return to work right now. Even light stress could push her body too far."

Gabriel let out a slow breath. "Then I’ll talk to her. I’ll make sure she doesn’t insist on going back to work."

"That would be for the best," Skye replied softly. "I remember Amelie once told me she felt like a burden to you... that the pup wasn’t even your responsibility. That’s why she wanted to help with the work, to ease things for you."

Gabriel’s expression darkened. "Of course. My mother filled her head with those insecurities," he muttered. "That’s the main reason she keeps insisting she has to work. Always says she loves working, says it like it’s all for her, but deep down, I know she feels guilty."

Skye caught the frustration in his tone. Something about the way he spoke made it clear, tension still lingered between him and the Queen.

"Don’t tell me you came back from the palace after another argument with your mother," Skye said, half-joking as she raised a brow.

Gabriel didn’t reply.

Her eyes widened. "Seriously? You fought with her again?"

"She always starts it," he said with a sigh. "And honestly, I don’t feel like living in that hellish place anymore."

"You should go then. Amelie is waiting for you outside," Skye stated.

"Yeah. Thanks," Gabriel held the report tightly and walked out.

His eyes fell on Amelie, who was looking at a new mother and her newborn pup. Her eyes deflected the joy, which was different, something only a mother could feel.

’I will make sure you give the birth safely, Amelie,’ Gabriel thought.