[Note: Elena's name will be changed to Cece the moment she completes the first mission! thanks]
Gabriel stared at her for a moment longer, his expression unreadable, before he suddenly said, "Try me."
Elena blinked. Then rolled her eyes so hard she almost saw her past life again.
"Please," she muttered and waved her hand dismissively. Someone who goes around deceiving people with forks and drinking sticks wants me to trust him?
As if he read her mind, Gabriel's eyes flicked red for two seconds, and Elena would swear she saw something else in them… something she didn't expect to encounter with vampires.
Something that didn't match his usual confident, teasing attitude at all.
Elena was shocked. She sensed… pain? because she could tell truth from lies, and she had seen plenty.
But that… that didn't look fake.
Before she could think deeper into it, Gabriel had already looked away.
"It's fine," he said, his tone returning to normal as if nothing had happened. "Give me the diamond… and what I promised will be delivered tonight."
Elena stared at him for a second longer. Then shook her head and pushed herself up from the ground. She dusted her dress lightly, then faced him again, her expression calmer now. "I will trust you."
Gabriel raised a brow immediately. "No, don't," he sneered. "I might tell others what we discussed," he added bluntly. "Be careful."
Elena didn't even react to that. She just took a breath and said it. "I have to mate with Alpha Damon tonight… or he might die without having any children."
Gabriel stared at her for some seconds. He had nothing to say. Because this was not the Cece he knew at all. He was good at studying, and he had studied the beast people, and the Cece he knew wanted to mate with Damon because he was powerful and she wanted to show him off and use him to step on others.
But why did she suddenly care about his life? Not only that, but his future? When did she become… like this?
"So," Gabriel finally said and folded his arms in amusement, "you want me to compel him?"
Elena nodded immediately, her eyes lighting up as she had finally found hope. "Yes! I don't know how to tell him because he hates me a lot!"
Gabriel stared at her as she had just said the most obvious thing in the world.
"Look," he said, exhaling softly. "I think you know Damon well enough. Even when wolves have their own packs, some of them still live here and own special caves. You can ask them about their Alpha, and they will tell you, Cece."
He tilted his head to study her expression. "Damon has slept with enough women… and nothing happened," he added.
Elena's expression froze. "Excuse me?"
She blinked in surprise. Then her face twisted with something she herself couldn't figure out. "I refuse to believe that," she muttered, her brain disturbed. "That man looks too serious for nonsense like that…"
She paused. Then shook her head. "No… I think that's not the case."
'Maybe I should stop comparing him to Jacob,' she sighed.
Her gaze lowered as she thought about what she would tell Gabriel in order to make him help her, then she smiled and looked up. "His fate is tied to the noble blood of a black fox…"
Gabriel hummed. "You can say royal," he corrected casually. "I've studied your kind a lot. Those 'lords' you talk about are basically kings… or presidents." He paused. "Well, you probably won't understand that."
Elena looked at him blankly… she knew he was testing her, but she chose to play along. "I understand money," she said flatly. "Continue."
Gabriel almost laughed. "Well, that's not the case, Your Highness," he continued, "but why not just tell him?"
Elena froze. "Ah…."
She went quiet for some minutes because her brain stopped working.
Tell him? Just like that?
"Look," Gabriel went on without any idea of what the problem was, "Damon would do anything to have cubs. If you give him a good reason, he'll accept. I think Hermione has been trying to help him with that, though I'm not entirely sure…"
"Hermione…" Elena's eyes darkened at the name.
Ohhh… now it made sense. "No wonder he keeps insisting he wants her…" she muttered in frustration.
Then suddenly, she grabbed Gabriel's hands tightly. "Please, help me, Prince Gabriel!"
Gabriel froze. He looked down at their joined hands like his brain had stopped processing. "You're touching me," he said slowly.
Elena ignored that. "I must do it tonight."
Gabriel sighed helplessly. "Not all beasts can be compelled," he added quickly, trying to regain control of the situation. "Especially foxes and Alphas…"
"No, not that!" she cut him off immediately, shaking her head. She leaned closer, lowering her voice like she was about to commit a crime.
"I mean… help me do it."
Gabriel blinked. "Do what?"
Elena hesitated for a second… then tightened her grip again. "If you help me confuse him," she said firmly, "I'll give you the diamond." Then she sighed. "And I won't expose your secret."
Gabriel's expression changed. "What secret?" he asked quietly.
Elena chuckled as she had already said enough. Then she pulled her hands back and crossed her arms. "Just help me first."
Gabriel looked at her for a while… then nodded. "I hope you don't regret this."