Rejected and Pregnant: Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince

Chapter 836 5

Noah finished reading the article on the screen of the tablet, the words "not a true Sinclair" burned into his mind.

He had been quietly unraveling for days, keeping the doubt locked inside. Every time he stood before a mirror, he searched for a resemblance that wasn't there.

His features felt foreign, his bone structure out of sync with the man he called father.

"Mom always says my eyes are like her wolf's," Noah murmured to his reflection, his voice barely audible. "But I wanted them to be like Dad's just like Elara has."

He set the hand mirror face down on the bedside table, unable to look at himself any longer. The house was quiet, but his mind was too loud for sleep. He slipped out of his room and moved down the darkened corridor.

As he reached the landing overlooking the main hall, he saw that the night was far from over for the adults. His father and uncles were still gathered below, the low clink of ice against glass echoing in the vast space.

Noah hesitated, intending to retreat before he was spotted, but he paused to watch the scene play out.

Karmen and Denzel were already heading toward the exit, their figures disappearing into the shadows, while Katelyn was busy dragging a protesting Sage back toward their wing of the mansion.

Left alone in the dim light of the hall, the remaining men seemed settled in for a long night, unaware of the young boy watching them from above with a heart full of heavy questions.

"The kids are growing up fast," Dominick noted, swirling the wine in his glass. "I noticed Elara is the softest of the bunch. I actually expected her to inherit your temper, Gabriel."

Gabriel leaned back, his expression unreadable. "It's better this way. One of me is enough. But Noah has my temper. I can sense it." He paused, his head tilting slightly as he caught a familiar scent, Noah's presence lingering nearby.

"Elizabeth is becoming a handful," Casio spoke up, rubbing his temples. "Her pranks are getting out of control. Every time I stand in front of her to scold her, I completely forget what I was going to say. She just has a way of disarming me."

Dominick chuckled. "She's just a child, Cas. Her pranks are harmless."

The conversation continued, but Gabriel stood up abruptly. The others watched him move toward the staircase.

"Where are you heading?" Dominick asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You two finish up," Gabriel said, offering a curt nod. "I have somewhere I need to be. Goodnight."

High above on the landing, Noah's heart hammered against his ribs. Realizing his father had sensed him, he turned and bolted down the corridor. He reached his room in seconds, slipping through the door and preparing to dive back into bed.

He froze halfway into the room.

Amelie was standing by his bedside, her face pale in the glow of the tablet she held in her hands, the very one he had used to read the article about his heritage.

"Mom," Noah whispered.

Amelie turned slowly to face him. Her expression wasn't one of anger, but a deep, quiet sadness that made Noah's chest tighten. "Come here, Noah," she said softly.

Noah walked toward her, his steps heavy. "Mom, the article... it just popped up. I got curious. I didn't mean to keep looking, I promise. I know reporters make things up to get attention."

Amelie didn't argue. She set the tablet face-down on the nightstand, then reached out and lifted Noah with a strength that belied her frame, settling him onto the small sofa at the foot of the bed. She sat beside him, resting a comforting hand on his head.

Before she could speak, the door pushed open. Gabriel stepped in, his presence immediately filling the room. "Noah, you weren't asleep. Why did you bolt when you sensed me?" He stopped short when he realized Amelie was already there.

"Dad!" Noah's heart sank. He had hoped to outrun his father's keen senses, but now he was caught between both of them.

Gabriel looked from his son's pale face to Amelie's.

"Noah read an article," Amelie said. "About him not being a true Sinclair."

Gabriel flinched, a rare flicker of vulnerability crossing his face before he crossed the room. He didn't sit on the sofa; instead, he dropped to his knees on the floor directly in front of Noah, bringing himself to his son's level.

"There is something we've wanted to tell you for a long time," Gabriel began, his voice low and solemn. "We gave you pieces of the truth, but we held back the rest."

Noah looked at him, his small hands gripping his knees. "Dad, is it about my birth? You always told me you two found each other because of me—that I've been special since the moment Mom knew she was pregnant. But these articles... they say I'm different. They say I don't belong." He swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

"I'm sorry, but it's been bothering me. It's not that I don't love having Mom's eyes, but I wanted to look like you. Elara has those violet eyes, and I see how proud you are when you talk about them."

Gabriel felt a sharp pang of guilt. He realized then how his praise for Elara's traits must have felt like a silent exclusion to his son.

"Noah, I am so sorry I made you feel that way," Gabriel said, reaching out to steady his son's hands with his own. "And I'm grateful you had the courage to tell us. Your mother and I should have spoken to you sooner, but we were waiting for the right moment, for a time when you were ready to understand the complexity of how our family truly began."

"I am ready," Noah insisted. "I'll be eight soon. I can handle the truth."

Amelie took a slow, steadying breath, her gaze drifting for a moment as she reached into a past she had long kept guarded. "The truth is, Noah, I had a mate before I found your father. He was my first mate, and it was with him that I conceived you."

Noah's eyes widened, his entire body going still as he processed her words.

"But the very day I discovered I was pregnant with you, he rejected me," Amelie continued while holding her tears back. "I had to run that night to save us both. I truly believed we would have died if I hadn't crossed paths with Gabriel. He sensed you in my womb and chose to protect me."

She looked at Gabriel, then back to her son. "He took on the role of your father before you were even born, protecting a life that wasn't his by blood, but was his by choice."

"Amelie, I think it was actually Noah who chose me," Gabriel corrected gently. "The moment I realized your first mate intended to kill you, I felt a pull—a signal from the child you were carrying. It was that connection that made me vow to protect you both."

Noah lowered his gaze, his small hands twisting together. "So that's why my eyes are different," he whispered, looking back up at Gabriel. "Because my biological father wasn't you."

"I am your father," Gabriel stated firmly, his voice leaving no room for doubt. He reached out, his palm cupping Noah's face. "I have never considered you anyone else's. You cannot imagine the isolation I felt before I met your mother. You both entered my life like a blessing I didn't know I was allowed to have. And trust me, Noah, I have always loved your eyes. They are the most unique in this world."

"He's right, Noah," Amelie added, her voice breaking as tears finally spilled over. "I'm so sorry we kept this from you for so long."

Seeing his mother cry, Noah panicked. He reached out immediately to wipe the tears from her cheeks. Gabriel pulled his hand back, giving them space, just as a soft knock sounded at the door.

Casaio and Dominick stood in the threshold, their expressions solemn. "Forgive us," Casaio said, stepping into the room with Dominick following. "We couldn't help but overhear."

He walked toward Noah, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Noah, you became a Sinclair the very second Gabriel chose Amelie. From the moment you were born, this entire royal family was filled with joy. You are the reason the curse from your parents' past lives was finally broken. Many things have happened to bring us here, but you have always been the most blessed and special child among us."

Dominick spoke up, a nostalgic glint in his eyes as he looked back on those turbulent years.

"Goodness, to choose you and Amelie, Gabriel had to stand his ground against everyone, even our mother, your grandmother. She was terrifying in those days, a real force of nature. Just thinking about that confrontation still gives me the chills," he admitted with a light chuckle.

Noah turned to his father and saw a small, private smile gracing Gabriel's lips, as if he were remembering the exact moment he decided they were worth the war.

"The point is, Noah, those articles don't define who you are," Gabriel asserted, his voice grounding and steady. "What defines you is that you are the son of Amelie and Gabriel Sinclair, and the big brother to Elara. You are the son every parent hopes for, and nothing, not blood or anything, will ever change that."

Noah sat in silence for a moment, processing the weight of his father's words. He realized then that his parents had walked through fire to bring him into this world. While his biological father had wanted him and his mother dead, Gabriel had not only saved them, he had claimed them.

"I understand now. I think... my doubts are finally gone," Noah said, a bright, relieved smile breaking across his face. He scrambled off the bed and threw his arms around Gabriel, hugging him with all his strength. "Thank you for being my father, Dad. I just always worried that I wasn't enough like you."

Gabriel returned the embrace, his grip firm and protective. "You are more like me than you realize, Noah. You've inherited my temper—you might not see it yet, but I've sensed it simmering beneath the surface." He pulled back slightly, looking his son in the eye. "And don't forget, your wolf has already awakened. That alone proves just how powerful you are."

Gabriel pulled back slightly, holding Noah by the shoulders as he looked directly into his eyes. "You are my pride, Noah. You always will be."

Noah beamed, his heart finally light, and turned toward Amelie. She leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead as if sealing the promise they had just made.

"Brother, can I sleep with you?"

The heavy atmosphere broke instantly as Elara barged into the room, clutching her toy rabbit to her chest. "I feel scared alone. I don't want—" She stopped mid-sentence, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she realized her parents and uncles were all gathered there. Her expression shifted from fear to immediate concern. "Noah? Did something happen? Are you alright?"

She dashed across the floor, coming to a halt right in front of him.

"Your brother is absolutely fine, Elara," Gabriel said, his voice returning to its usual calm authority.

"Yes, I'm fine," Noah assured her with a smile. "I thought you wanted to sleep in your own room starting yesterday?"

Elara shook her head vigorously, a stray lock of hair falling over her face. "No. I want you to tell me a story. I fall asleep much faster that way." She let out a long, contagious yawn, prompting Amelie to stand up and take charge of the late hour.

"Alright, you two," Amelie said, her tone warm as she guided them toward the bed. "It's time to sleep."

Once the children were tucked in, the adults stepped out into the quiet corridor.

"Noah is a remarkably understanding boy," Casaio remarked, glancing at Dominick. The two brothers offered a final goodnight and headed toward their own wings of the palace, leaving the couple alone.

"Let's stay the night with them," Gabriel suggested, his voice low. Amelie nodded in agreement, and they quietly slipped back into the bedroom.

"Mom! Dad!" Noah and Elara exclaimed in unison, sitting up in surprise.

"We've decided to sleep here tonight. The bed is certainly big enough for the four of us," Amelie said with a smile, sliding under the heavy duvet next to Elara. Gabriel settled in on the other side next to Noah, pulling his children into a protective embrace.

"I am truly blessed to have this family," Gabriel murmured.

"And I'm proud to be your son, Dad. Thank you for being my father," Noah said, his voice filled with a new sense of peace.

"And I'm proud to be a mama's girl!" Elara added, snuggling closer.

Gabriel and Amelie laughed softly together.

THE END