GABRIELLA'S POV The intensity of our connection ignited a fire within me – a yearning for his care and attention. I leaned into his touch, seeking solace in his embrace. The heaviness of the day had taken its toll on me, and now, more than ever, I needed him to take care of me, just as I had taken care of our daughter. A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he held me close. "Thank you, my love," he whispered. "But tonight, let me take care of you. Let me be the one to soothe your weariness." A mixture of gratitude and relief washed over me. I nodded, my voice filled with quiet acceptance. "Yes, Nic, I would love that. I need that." With a strength that belied his tenderness, he effortlessly lifted me into his arms, cradling me in a bridal hold. I clung to him, my legs wrapped around his waist, as he carried me toward the bathroom. The anticipation of his care filled the air, mingling with the warmth of his touch. As we entered the bathroom, the soft glow of candle

GABRIELLA'S POV As I gently locked the door, attempting not to awaken Nicklaus, I hurried down the hallway, my feet moving as swiftly as they could. Margret. I had to go and see Margret. She might hold a solution—a charm, an incantation, a chant—anything, absolutely anything. Anything that could aid us in uncovering who was behind Estella's abduction. It was bad that they had attempted to take my daughter, but it was worse that we didn't know their origin or have the faintest idea of what they might do next, where they could strike from. Moreover, Nicklaus was too quick to anger. Even if he was going to kill the man we caught trying to take Estella across the border, he was supposed to detain him in the dungeon for at least a few days and extract a confession through torture before he revealed who had sent him. Reaching the front of Margaret's door, I knocked urgently, my hand trembling. "Who's there?" I heard her inquire from inside. "It's me. It's me," I said, my breath quiver

GABRIELLA'S POV As I gently turned the doorknob with utmost care, the familiar creak of the door threatened to betray my stealthy exit. I held my breath, trying to avoid any sound that could potentially alert Nicklaus to my presence. With a mix of anxiety and determination, I gently opened the door, praying for it to remain silent. Slipping into the room, I closed the door behind me with a barely audible click. Relief washed over me, and I let out a quiet sigh, believing that I had successfully completed my mission of sneaking out unnoticed. I turned around, my heart still racing, only to be startled by Nicklaus standing by the toilet door, his eyes fixed on me with a mix of intensity and concern. My heart skipped a beat, and my mind raced to come up with a plausible explanation. "Hey, you're awake already," I said, trying to mask my surprise with a casual tone as I approached him. Nicklaus's gaze held a combination of worry and curiosity. "Sweetheart, where are you coming from?

GABRIELLA'S POV Atlas had gone out earlier to attend to certain matters. It was just Estella and me in the room. Though I wanted to rest, I forced myself to stand up and take care of her. After dressing Estella and ensuring her comfort, I shifted my attention to the gentle knock on the door. Curiosity piqued, I wondered who could be visiting at this hour. Adjusting Estella's gown, I quickly approached the door and called out, "Who's there?" "It's Maria," a voice replied from the other side. "Margret sent me to deliver an important message to you." Relief washed over me at the mention of Margret's name. Eager to hear what she had to say, I opened the door wider and motioned for Maria to speak. "I'm listening," I said, my voice filled with anticipation. Maria's eyes met mine, and with a respectful nod, she began relaying Margret's message. "Thank you, ma'am. Margret said to tell you that you should meet her by the central hall in a few minutes. However, if you're busy, she ment

GABRIELLA'S POV The crowd stirred, a cacophony of murmurs and exclamations filling the room. "Silence!" Argatha's voice thundered once again, cutting through the noise. "I didn't ask for any of your opinions," she added sharply, her tone laced with anger. The room fell silent once more, every eye fixed on Argatha, awaiting her next revelation. I could feel the weight of the situation settling upon us all, uncertainty and fear mingling in the air. "As I was saying," Argatha continued, her voice now tinged with frustration, "we sought guidance from Makamasilanduta, the one who sees what has happened before. We hoped to gain insight into the source of the attack or at least identify the culprit, so we could prepare our warriors for war. But to our utmost surprise, we were instructed to conduct a thorough search within our own community first." A wave of confusion washed over the crowd, mingling with the lingering fear. Conversations erupted, voices overlapping as pack members specula