CHAPTER 233: EVERYONE WORKS ON MY TERMS

Amelie’s pendant shimmered with a soft violet glow, and within seconds, Gabriel appeared before her. The warmth of his presence enveloped her, and she instinctively opened her eyes, sensing he had arrived.

He immediately turned toward her, concern etched into his features. Stepping closer, he gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

"You’re not hurt, are you?" he asked.

Amelie shook her head. "No, I’m fine," she replied softly, her eyes meeting his.

A faint cry of pain broke the moment. Riley, just a few steps away, let out a whimper as she clutched her injured left arm, her face contorted in pain.

Karmen had rushed toward her, but Riley quickly stood, shifting into a defensive stance.

Gabriel’s gaze snapped to Riley, a deep frown forming as recognition set in, she was the same woman who had attacked him at the hospital.

Panic flickered across Riley’s face. She knew it was too late to escape. Even if she tried, she’d be caught. With resolve hardening in her eyes, she decided to die.

Lifting her right hand, she twisted the ring she wore, revealing a tiny hidden compartment. Just as she was about to tip the pill into her mouth, Karmen lunged forward and grasped her wrist, stopping her.

Snarling, Riley threw a punch at him, but he caught it effortlessly with his other hand.

Gabriel stepped in beside Karmen, carrying a merciless gaze. Without a word, his hand shot to Riley’s throat, tightening around it with deadly force. The pill slipped from her loosened fingers and fell to the floor as Karmen took a cautious step back.

Katelyn arrived just then, witnessing the intense scene unfolding before her before stopping next to Amelie.

"You alright?"

"Yes. I’m fine."

Riley’s nails dug into Gabriel’s hand in a desperate attempt to free herself, but he didn’t even flinch.

"We need to interrogate her," Karmen urged.

But Gabriel didn’t seem to hear her. He was lost in his fury.

"Gabriel, let her go," Amelie said, stepping forward. "We can use her to reach Luke, or force him to the negotiation table."

But, he ignored her words too. It appeared as if his ears had completely shut off to any outside voice.

Riley thrashed violently in his grasp, her body lifting slightly off the ground.

"Gabriel, let her go! She’ll die at this rate!" Amelie said again.

Only then did Gabriel’s grip loosen. Riley crumpled to the floor, but it was already too late. Karmen knelt beside her instantly, checking for a pulse.

"She’s dead," he said grimly. Blood trickled from Riley’s throat, where Gabriel’s claws, extended in his rage, had pierced her skin.

Gabriel’s eyes fell to the phone Riley had dropped. He picked it up and turned it on. There was an outgoing call, he quickly redialed the number.

After a few rings, the call was picked.

"Be prepared to die," Gabriel said. "You shouldn’t have sent your minion to harm my mate."

The blood still wet on his fingers gleamed faintly as his claws retracted to their normal form.

Just then, his brothers arrived at the scene, Zilia close behind them. They watched Gabriel in silence, having heard every word he spoke.

"You killed her!?"

"Yes. And you’ll be next. You should’ve known who you’re playing with, Luke. Now, I throw a deal to you. Either come here, or I’m going to kill every single one in that pack you’ve built for years. Mark my words. I will do it," Gabriel said, his eyes turning into a darker shade of violet.

"Do you want your brother’s beta to be dead then?" Luke asked.

"Do you think I truly care about her or anyone else? Luke, I’m not my brother. You shouldn’t have involved me in your mess. You’ve one hour to come here or you’ll see what real destruction is!" Gabriel threatened him when Casaio snatched the phone from him.

But by then, the call was disconnected.

"Why did you do that? Estelle’s life couldn’t be put at stake," Casaio said sharply.

"The hell I care for that, Cas," Gabriel snapped. "I’m done being soft. Amelie was this close to being harmed. For her, I’ll sacrifice as many lives as it takes. But from now on, everyone works on my terms."

"If Amelie matters to you, then Estelle matters to me," Casaio retorted, snatching the phone from Gabriel’s hand. "No innocent life should be lost unnecessarily. Can’t you understand that one simple thing?"

"Please don’t fight," Idris spoke up gently, standing quietly beside Zilia, his gaze shifting between the two brothers.

"Idris is right. This isn’t the time to argue," Amelie said. There was something unsettling about Gabriel’s rage, even though she had long understood the lengths he’d go for her.

"The woman... her name was Riley," Zilia said, cutting into the tension.

"You know her?" Casaio asked immediately, feeling shocked.

"I saved her life once," Zilia answered in a tone of guilt. "I didn’t know she was working for Luke."

"Are you sure?" Gabriel narrowed his eyes at her, suspicion clear in his gaze.

"Yes. I didn’t know. She was of Alpha blood... She must’ve been injected with a suppressant to hide her wolf," Zilia explained. "I am sorry Amelie that you were involved in this too."

Casaio looked at the time on the watch and decided to talk to Luke. He dialed the number from his phone this time, so that Luke wouldn’t hesitate to answer it.

"Luke, it’s me, Casaio. Why don’t we come on a negotiation table? I want my beta back," Casaio said.

"Why? Is your brother scared of me now?" Luke questioned from the other side. He looked at the sharp blade of the dagger, and then Riley, who was on the floor.

"I know your past. We did wrong to you. And I want to make it right. Let’s meet in an hour on the border of our respective territories. Don’t you want a better end?" Casaio asked him.

Luke furrowed his brows together. No one could know his past. Then, how someone found out about it.

"Luke, let’s not mess it up. If both of us get into a battle, it will be only loss of lives. Call me back in five minutes after deciding," Casaio said and hung up the call.